Customer Reviews

Addiction: Why Can't They Just Stop?

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have asked my son a thousand times----"why can't you just stop?" His "I don't know" would leave me feeling even more bewildered, hopeless, and sad. This book gets to the heart of the matter ----- the difference in brain chemistry ----- which precedes that first drink, hit,or fix and the alteration of brain chemistry-----which follows. My son just entered rehab today and for the first time in a long time I feel a sense of empowerment and HOPE !!! Thank you HBO for delving into this societal problem which is destroying many of our best and brightest.

This is a MUST read for those suffering with addiction. I have read countless books on the subject. This is the only book that I have read that gave me clear cut understanding of addiction. It is very hard to find out where to go for help and this book lays out all of the options and gives the good and bad of each. Before we had insurance, I didn't know there was help out there. This book leads you to places that will help. It will give you a clear starting point. No more calling around and practically begging for information. Its really sad our medical system is like this. This book will surely help. Thank you so much.

Very good information given in a simple way. Important for anybody who needs to know facts about this disease.

This is one of the best books I have read on the subject of Addiction and alcoholism. It not only is informative for the addict/alcoholic themselves, but it is for everyone who is or has been affected by addiction of some sort. It is also for professionals alike. It gives great insite to the idea that addiction "is" a brain disease. I find in my recovery that there are so many people, friends, family, active & recoverying addicts that can't even begin to understand what addiction really is. That its not we're just a bunch of low life losers who choose this life stlye or death from it. It is a real ptoblem for America and the more people that get involved and educate themselves maybe just maybe there may be more help for those who are so sick that they can't help themselves and if they choose to get help. God willing it will be the "right" help. Not just throw someone into a 28 or 30 day treatment program and then throw them back into the reality they came from and except forever abstinence. It's an issue that needs to be addressed to Medical Ptofessionals, educational institutes that offer classes to get certified or a degree to treat these poor unfourtunates, General MD's should have at the very the very least a crash course in addiction. I went to see what a thought was an MD for my dual-addiction of depression/opiate addict and they teach you in recovery to be brutely honest, because they say you are only as sick as your secrets. When I first sat down with her (she was a 1st yr resident). I told her I was chemically dependent, her response to me was, "what's that"? I could go on and on about how ignorant our society is to the disease of Addiction, but really? Would it do any good? Read the book-it's great!

This book was very helpful to me during a time in my Life when I needed to understand addiction. I recommend this book to anyone who has a family member struggling with addicition. It has updated information,graphs and pictures of the brain why certain people are more prone to addiction!

finally a book that helped me understand why my sister cant just stop - Its not that she doesnt love us or care that she is hurting us but there is a chemical mess up in her brain from drugs... her brain thinks she needs it to survive. Must read - very educational

This book is an amazing book...its not just your typical addiction book, it has stories and so many useful facts and really keeps the attention! I have engulfed myself in this book and have learned so many new things about addiction and how the brain works when it comes to addiction! I would recommend this book to anyone, not just addicts or recovering addicts. Psychologists, social workers, family members of addicts and for anyone who would like to know about addiction and what it is like to use drugs or be addicted.
The cost of this book was wonderful and the shipping was fast. I used this book for a paper and had it here in plenty of time to read the whole book and write the paper using the information from the book!
Very recommended seller!

Good book. Has some good information and inspiring stores. I thought the flow was all over the place. I think it is suppose to follow an HBO miniseries that I have yet to see. I have a personal interest in alcohol and drug dependency but otherwise would not have purchased this. If you can get it for way under retail then it is a good buy and a good addition to your collection. Otherwise I their are many other choices out their that give the reader more information and are more useful.

Wow, this book is so jam packed with information on just about every addiction out there. It touches every addiction from many different angles. It is good to know that Science is progressing in finding ways to help the addicts to recover better. I learned so much about alcoholism and how it really affects the brain. It explains everything so good that anyone can understand "Why they can't just quit". I recommend this book to anyone.

Although I had never read a book about addictions before, I found the perspective a little different than expected. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of science and stories. An insightful look into how addiction shapes the brain and thought processes. Very helpful for those who know someone struggling.