Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy - Hardcover

Sheff, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 054784865X ISBN 13: 9780547848655

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013

Synopsis

Addiction is a preventable, treatable disease, not a moral failing. As with other illnesses, the approaches most likely to work are based on science — not on faith, tradition, contrition, or wishful thinking.

These facts are the foundation of Clean, a myth-shattering look at drug abuse by the author of Beautiful Boy. Based on the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, Clean is a leap beyond the traditional approaches to prevention and treatment of addiction and the mental illnesses that usually accompany it. The existing treatment system, including Twelve Step programs and rehabs, has helped some, but it has failed to help many more, and David Sheff explains why. He spent time with scores of scientists, doctors, counselors, and addicts and their families to learn how addiction works and what can effectively treat it. Clean offers clear, cogent counsel for parents and others who want to prevent drug problems and for addicts and their loved ones no matter what stage of the illness they’re in. But it is also a book for all of us — a powerful rethinking of the greatest public health challenge of our time.

About this title

Review

""Clean "will change not only how you look at drug abuse, but also what you think should be done about it. This book is essential reading about one of our most important social problems." - Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation" and "Reefer Madness " "How do we prevent kids from using drugs, and how do we effectively treat addiction? "Clean "cuts through the technical jargon and marketing nonsense to summarize our best knowledge on these topics. The case studies illuminate the challenging process of treatment and the remarkable changes that occur with recovery. Clean is a major contribution to our understanding of this disease and how to fight it." - Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D., professor and associate director, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles ""Clean "is an important expose of a failed system; by replacing it, we will save countless lives, help people get clean and stay clean, and help the U.S. end its catastrophic war on drugs." - Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman, Virgin Group, and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy "David Sheff is one of our strongest and most compassionate voices on the profound costs of addiction to the family and to society. "Clean" should be read by anyone affected by the number-one public health issue in America, which means it should be ready by everybody." - Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of Recover to Live and Symptoms of Withdrawal "David Sheff has written the most important book about addiction in a decade. "Clean" is a blueprint for thinking clearly - and empathetically - about America's costliest and most misunderstood public health crisis." - Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of "America Anonymous" "Indisputably important." -- "Library Journal" "Gripping and vibrant." -- "Publishers Weekly" "Intelligent and thought-provoking views into the complexities of addiction and recovery." "-- Kirkus Reviews" "Providing a wealth of information and p

"Providing a wealth of information and practical advice, Clean is the best book on drug abuse and addiction to appear in years . . . Busts a mountain of myths . . . An extraordinarily valuable book." -- Psychology Today

"As a journalist, father, and clear-eyed chronicler of addiction, David Sheff is without peer." -- Sanjay Gupta, M.D., chief medical correspondent, CNN

"Clean will change not only how you look at drug abuse, but also what you think should be done about it. This book is essential reading about one of our most important social problems." -- Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation and Reefer Madness

"How do we prevent kids from using drugs, and how do we effectively treat addiction? Clean cuts through the technical jargon and marketing nonsense to summarize our best knowledge on these topics. The case studies illuminate the challenging process of treatment and the remarkable changes that occur with recovery. Clean is a major contribution to our understanding of this disease and how to fight it." -- Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D., professor and associate director, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

"Clean is an important expose of a failed system; by replacing it, we will save countless lives, help people get clean and stay clean, and help the U.S. end its catastrophic war on drugs." -- Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman, Virgin Group, and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy

"David Sheff is one of our strongest and most compassionate voices on the profound costs of addiction to the family and to society. Clean should be read by anyone affected by the number-one public health issue in America, which means it should be ready by everybody." -- Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of Recover to Live and Symptoms of Withdrawal

"Indisputably important." -- Library Journal

"Gripping and vibrant." -- Publishers Weekly

"Intelligent and thought-provoking views into the complexities of addiction and recovery." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Sheff is a skilled journalist on an urgent mission. He prevailed over the anger and hopelessness he felt at his son's addiction by calling upon great reserves of love and discipline to investigate what might help, first as a father and then, in this book, as a reporter and an advocate. His forebearance and clearheadedness could serve as an example for America as it confronts its drug problem. He has performed a vital service by compiling sensible advice on a subject for which sensible advice is in short supply." -- New York Times Book Review

From the Back Cover

“In Beautiful Boy, David Sheff gave voice to the silent — the millions of addicts and their families. Now, in Clean, he offers them a path toward healing. Our nation is sinking into an epidemic. This book offers realistic hope for recovery from addiction for those who suffer the disease.” — Drew Pinsky, MD

“David Sheff is one of our strongest and most compassionate voices on the profound costs of addiction to the family and to society. Clean should be read by anyone affected by the number-one public health issue in America, which means it should be read by everybody.” — Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of Recover to Live and Symptoms of Withdrawal

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 054784865X
• ISBN 13: 9780547848655
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 374