The Opioid Fix: America's Addiction Crisis and the Solution They Don't Want You to Have

By Barbara Andraka-Christou

Addiction is a chronic medical condition. Why treat it, then, outside of mainstream medicine? Drawing on more than 100 in-depth interviews with people in recovery, their family members, treatment providers, and policy makers, the author reveals a troubling landscape characterized by underregulated treatment centers and unnecessary ideological battles between twelve-step support groups and medication providers. This book argues that MAT needs to be available to anyone suffering from opioid addiction and focuses on people who have already developed an opioid addiction but are struggling to find effective treatment. The Opioid Fix sounds a loud call for policy reforms that will help put lifesaving drugs into the hands of those who need them the most.

Chasing the Scream: The Opposite of Addiction is Connection

by Johann Hari - The New York Times Bestseller

What if everything you think you know about addiction is wrong? Johann Hari's journey into the heart of the war on drugs led him to ask this question--and to write the book that gave rise to his viral TED talk, and inspired the feature film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and the documentary series The Fix. Realizing he had addiction, he set out and traveled over 30,000 miles over three years to discover what really causes addiction--and what really solves it. Chasing the Scream is the story of a life-changing journey that transformed the addiction debate internationally--and showed the world that the opposite of addiction is connection. 

The Little Book of College Sobriety: Living Happy, Healthy, and FREE

By Susan Packard

Stories from College Students, a Few Graduates, and One Mother. The path to recovery is a trek from self-discovery to action. These stories shed new light on ways to grow and sustain good emotional health. When we tell our stories, we become visible. We find our voices and discover all that’s true about us. As a member of the recovery community, the author has learned there are many reasons we misuse drugs and alcohol. Childhood traumas. Sometimes mental illness is involved. This book is a form of empowerment, to honor those who have pushed through their pain, and found joy and hope-rich recoveries. They are models to show other young adults that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and all you can become. The proceeds from the sale of this book go to ARHE, Association of Recovery in Higher Education.

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

By Gabor Mate, MD

"While not all addictions are caused by abuse or trauma, I believe they can all be traced back to a painful experience." All addictive behaviors are motivated by a sense of pain. It can be found in gamblers, Internet addicts, compulsive shoppers, and workaholics. The wound may not be as deep, the ache may not be as excruciating, and it may even be completely hidden—but it exists. As we'll see, early stress or negative experiences have a direct impact on both the psychology and neurobiology of addictive behavior in the brain. Dr Gabor Mate advocates for sympathy toward addicts, viewing them as sick people attempting to recover in the best way they know how. The simplicity of this concept makes so much sense, but it is frequently overlooked in everything from AA to drug law.

The Addiction Solution: Treating our Dependence on Opioids and Other Drugs

By Lloyd Sederer, MD

A practical guide to addiction treatment from a psychiatrist and public health doctor, offering practical, proven solutions for individuals, families, and communities dealing with substance use and abuse. It brings together scientific and clinical knowledge, policy suggestions, and case studies to describe our current drug crisis and establish a clear path forward to recovery and health. The author identifies a key insight, often overlooked in writing about addiction and its treatment: namely, that people who use drugs do so to meet specific needs, and that drugs may be the best solution those people currently have. Dr Sederer lays out specific, evidence-based, researched solutions to the prevention and problems of drug use, including exercise, medications, therapy, recovery programs, and community services.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as the Big Book in recovery circles) sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. The fourth edition includes twenty-four new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in A.A. during the early years of the 21st century. Sixteen stories are retained from the third edition, including the "Pioneers of A.A." section, which helps the reader remain linked to A.A.'s historic roots, and shows how early members applied this simple but profound program that helps alcoholics get sober today. It is expected that the new fourth edition will play its part in passing on A.A.'s basic message of recovery.