Customer Reviews

Healing the Addicted Brain: The Revolutionary, Science-Based Alcoholism and Addiction Recovery Program

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I expected more from a doctor that has made it his career to "help" alcoholics and addicts.

Throughout the book, the author repetitively tells the reader to access more information and resources at the EnterHealth's (the rehab facility the author is affiliated with) website... of course the author never once mentioned that to access that information and those resources would cost $95 and rapidly escalate up for telephone support (and given the track record, that access will probably point the reader to residential rehab at EnterHealth's facility). Most sales brochures are free, but this one puts the addict and family back about $11.

Also, the climax of this book seems to be the author's fascination with Vivitrol (injectible naltrexone). Author (page 73): "Vivitrol is the breakthrough medicine that will revolutionize the treatment of alcoholism." Wow. In its page-after-page of glowing review the author fails to mention any real downside. Such as throughout a randomized trial of Vivitrol craving persisted (leaving patients to struggle over obsessive thoughts and addictive craving that carry the risk of relapse and death) and there was no progressive decrease in heavy drinking days after the end of the trial. [Source: "Naltrexone treatment for alcohol dependency," Journal of the American Medical Association 294(8) (August 24/31, 2005): 899-900] And, those with liver issues should not take Vivitrol, ... a problem for a certain percentage of people that are alcoholic. That the author doesn't even mention some fascinating research into other medications, such as Baclofen -- a generic no less, shows either bias or ignorance of current trends in research and thought.

I was trying to look for some positive information from the book to make this review seem more balanced, but all such information can be retrieved elsewhere (other contemporary addiction recovery books or online).

Unnecessarily taking money from people struggling with alcoholism or addiction should be considered unethical.

NOTE: the glowing quotes under 'review' and 'product description' above are from a Dr. Larry Hanselka, an affiliate of the author and conducts business in the office of the author's Urschel Recovery Science Institute ([...]). BUYER BEWARE.

Urschel's book is quite simply intellectually dishonest. He obviously knows his stuff, but the book reads like a multi-level marketing scheme filled with a bunch of simply wrong-headed claims with no references to speak of to back them up.

"Talking therapy can help correct problems in the cortex, but it cannot influence the limbic system or other structures found deeper in the brain."

This is bogus, just bogus, and he provides no reference. Where is he coming up with this??? As a therapist who studies neuroscience, he's just flat wrong. There's not a neuroscience lab in the world that would agree with this statement. Look at the work of Richie Davidson at U of Wisconsin, Jim Coan at U of Virginia, Daniel Siegel at UCLA, Dacher Keltner at UCLA, Jon Kabat-Zinn at U of Mass., and the list goes on and on.

His constant use of "talking therapy" to refer to psychotherapy and counseling, and the contexts in which he used it felt a little bit denigrating after a while, again from a guy who obviously has a severe case of money-making agenda-itis.

Reading the book felt like he was just trying to discredit everything except his "wonder drug" and his highly expensive website services.

Apart from that, if you're an addict or looking for help for an addict, just go to his website and see what it costs to sign up -- if you want to pay that, then get the book. But there are a lot better books out there and some great research (despite what Urschel says) that are showing excellent results...I would pass on this guy's magic pill.

Dear Dr. Urschel, I found the only new information in your book to be about the course of new medications for the addicted and how those medications can aid in recovery. However, I know of no doctors that a person without insurance can go to and get treated with these wonderful breakthrough tools. It appears as though the only place to go for a complete treatment program is your private pay program, and it cost $37,000. And even though you have a "Donate" site on your page that is supposed to fund scholarships, no one has donated. Perhaps maybe you should be the first one, Dr. Urschel. After all, your book did cost me about $15.99, plus tax, plus shipping.

This book Healing the Addicted Brain was an excellent help to me in understanding what addiction is and how i can get help for my best friend who is struggling with Alcoholism. Before finding this book, I just did not know what to do, but Dr Urschel explains the important issues in how to get great addiction treatment very clearly. The book is easy to understand and to read. It has a lot of great exercises to help me understand the concepts better. It is even linked to an addiction website www.enterhealth.com which provides great information on other topics. After reading it, I bought several more copies to give to some of my other friends and their families that are dealing with the same issues. Really good book. I highly recommend it. It is about time that we had some real, effective information available to help me with my friend.

Before you buy this book, click on the "Look inside!" link and choose First pages, and if you are aren't offended by the writing style then go ahead and buy the book. I am looking for concrete science-based explanations, not condescending blather addressing me as if I were a not-very-bright adolescent, with expressions like "talking cells" and "listening cells". Really? What ARE these cells? What precisely does he mean by "talking" and "listening"? I was so offended I didn't buy the book, especially after looking in index as well and finding that dopamine, a key player in addiction, is mentioned on only three pages in the book.

A family member read the book, went to the treatment program in Texas. The family member was sober at the time, having detoxed themselves before heading there - they had been completely sober for two weeks. A doctor talked the family member into taking the drug soboxone saying it would be helpful to the brain in the recovery process. No matter how much the family member resisted the doctor eventually talked them into taking the drug. When the family member returned home after a 60-day stay they continued to visit the clinic in town to get the psychiatrist to give them the soboxone script. The family member became a walking zombie, completely lost all motivation to do anything. They didn't want to use the street drugs anymore, but became a raging gambler instead, stumbling around in a drunk haze, completely deadened, with no sense of right or wrong and completely out of control. The drugs cost $400 dollars a month, the recommended doctor visits consisting of a psychiatrist and a psychologist (who you are referred to by the center) another $400 a month, but the patient was still dependent and appeared to be slightly brainwashed. Despite all the drugs and the talking and the treatment center the patient gambled away a small fortune! It was very scary. Our family spent almost $70,000 at this center and there hasn't been a single phone call to check on them! The psychologist who was so concerned about the patient, hasn't picked up the phone to inquire after the patient since they discontinued going there. The center psychologist and the post-treatment psychologist made the patient feel so loved and cared for at the sessions, but not a call since the sessions discontinued leaving the family member feeling even more worthless. The patient has had to detox off the soboxone alone and the process was even more difficult that the initial detox and took weeks of agonizing withdrawals during which time they could not work! So, if you don't have this much money, time and your sanity to throw away, I suggest you save yourself the price of admission. The book is a nice read and, I agree, addiction, depression, anxiety etc. are caused by chemical imbalances and can therefore be considered brain diseases, but don't kid yourselves like we did. Sobriety is not a pill and a cozy, albeit expensive, chat away; it's hard work that takes a comprehensive approach that includes AA meetings and much much more. Replenishing vitamins and minerals and taking restorative amounts of amino acids and B-Vitamins are essential. You are better off going to a alternative or integrative doctor who can measure your neurotransmitters and determine the best course of supplement etc. Aerobic exercise and a clean diet are also part of a recovery program. And remember for those of you out there who are feeling responsible... It's not your fault, you didn't cause it, you can't control it and you can't cure. It's up to the addict to do the many things that are necessary when treating something as serious as brain disease.

CNN did a show on Saturday, April 18th; it was hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Gupta strongly confirms what Dr. Urschel states in his book and that is "addiction is a brain disease, it is a medical disease like hypertension, diabetes, etc. and should be treated accordingly. Unfortunately, most people do not know this and people who suffer from addiction don't know where to go for help. Dr. Urschel's book was an easy read and very educational. Not only does it help the addict, it portrays how imperative the family get support as well. Addiction is also a family disease. I would strongly recommend this book - it is not your average self-help book, it is an extraordinary read.



Healing the Addicted Brain: The Revolutionary, Science-Based Alcoholism and Addiction Recovery Program

This book is a must read for the whole family of anyone who is struggling with an addiction. Dr. Urschel writes as a great teacher who has the gift of describing in layman's terms the science of how addictions hijack the brain. He shows that addictions don't just continue because people are weak willed.

Dr. Urschel explains how the mainstay of addiction treatment--talk therapy--has not been shown to be very effective, but there are new scientific treatment methods available to doctors today that can help treat addictions much more successfully.

Healing the Addicted Brain gives hope. There are so many people today facing addictions who are convinced after failed attempts to come clean that they are destined to live a life enslaved to addiction. Dr. Urschel shows us how this is not true anymore in today's world--we have the knowledge to conquer addictions and their stronghold on our lives. This book does a wonderful job of spreading that word.

As a person who has struggled with addiction for several years, I can state without reservation that Dr. Urschel knows the subject of addiction. His book offers insight and hope for anyone dealing with addiction be they an addict or a family member. This is one of the best books written for those walking "the-one-day-at-a-time" road.

It's such easy reading; very user friendly for professionals and non-professionals. I have been looking for information to educate my clients and this is the book! Dr. Urschel made sure this book covered everything anyone wants to know about addiction and then some. Having seen him lecture several times, I can tell you this doc knows what he's talking about. He doesn't just invent things, he bases everything on research and statistics, what works and what doesn't. He's innovative and out of the box. I recommend this book to anyone who's interested in addiction.