Helpful Books to Read: Learn About Addiction and Recovery

Helpful Books to Read: Learn About Addiction and Recovery

Addiction and recovery are not just topics for hospitals, methadone clinics, and mental health facilities. In fact, the history of addiction and recovery have been documented in several fascinating books. These books have been well researched and they document the rise of drug abuse, addiction, and treatment in the United States and around the world. If you are interested in learning more about this very real problem in society today, take a look at a few of these titles:

Opiate Addiction – The Painkiller Addiction Epidemic, Heroin Addiction and the Way Out by Taite Adams. This book was recently updated in March of 2014. The book recognizes the epidemic that is opiate addiction in North America. It also recognizes the fact that recovery is difficult. Adams created a text that provides necessary information about the addiction as well as a real way to manage the fight to overcome the addiction. The book is highly recommended for people who are personally caught in the grips of addiction and for those who have loved ones who are trapped by opioids. Adams recognizes that knowledge is power when it comes to addictions to painkillers and opioids.

The Fix by Michael Massing. A paperback version of this book was published in 2001 and chronicles the 25 year battle on drugs led by American presidents in the 1970s and 1980s. The books is written in a journalistic style and promises to be illuminating and a bit frustrating, too. This is a vital addition to any book collection about drug addiction. It is full of actual history, interviews with addicts, and the role that politics took in the iconic “war on drugs” messages that dominated the end of the 20th century media.

The American Disease: Origins of Narcotic Control by David Musto. If you are considering enrolling in a course about the history of drug abuse in North America, this book will most likely be in the course syllabus. It may not be the most exciting read, but it shows how North America has moved through cycles about drugs and about government policies dating back to the 1860s. Once you finish this classic book, you will have a solid understanding of why addiction is such a problem today. The most recent version of the book was published in 1999.

Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud: Relapse and the Symptoms of Sobriety by Scott Stevens. Published in 2013, this book was a finalist from Next Generation Indie Books and USA Best Books Awards. While it does not address the problems with opioids, it does address the problems with alcohol addiction. It gets into the dirty underbelly of recovery and why relapse occurs with nearly 90% of alcoholics. The book is written for those who drink, those who do not drink, and those who know people who drink so that all parties involved in the cycles of recovery and relapse can understand what really happens.

The Narcotic Farm: The Rise and Fall of America’s First Prison for Drug Addicts by Nancy Campbell comes heavily recommended by those who want to learn more about drug abuse, recovery, and research. For 40 years, the Narcotic Farm was a real place where addicts went for rehabilitation. The Narcotic Farm was home to famous addicts as well as junkies who helped with the research conducted at the facility, that was shuttered in 1975. The book was released to support a PBS special about the Narcotic Farm, so it is full of photographs of first source documents, photographs, and actual stories from the prisoners who lived in the first federal prison designed just for drug addicts. The book was published in 2008, but sold very few copies.

Get Help From Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres

With patient-centered treatment, addiction can be stopped. At Canadian Addiction Treatment Centers, we help people struggling with addiction work their way back to a healthy, addiction-free lifestyle. Get help today by filling out our contact form or giving us a call at 1-877-937-2282.