One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin [Paperback]

Rita Lowenthal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

In 1970, at age 13, Josh Lowenthal used heroin for the first time and began an addiction that would be with him for his whole short life. One-Way Ticket follows Josh on his journey from fleeing early rehab programs in the Northeast as a boy to living on the streets of San Francisco, shoplifting and driving a taxicab to support his habit as a young adult. He entered a downward spiral known to be typical for long-term addicts, was in and out of rehab and jail, by turns hopeful and hopeless about his disease.In this memoir, Rita Lowenthal recreates her son's life, and shows how the lives of his family members and friends were permanently altered by his addiction. It was written in the hopes that the parents of addicts will not feel guilty about their children's choices and will instead develop a greater social perspective about their children's plight.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Powerful and eye-opening...One-Way Ticket might just change the way you look at addiction."
--Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of Symptoms of Withdrawal

About the Author

Rita Lowenthal is retired from the faculties of Hebrew Union College, School of Communal Service, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California School of Social Work. Currently, she is on the Drug Policy Committees of the Progressive Jewish Alliance and Progressive Christians Uniting. She lives with her husband Jerome Cushman in Santa Monica, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Beaufort Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825305497
• ISBN-13: 978-0825305498
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mother, Son and Heroin, October 1, 2007

By 

Eva Menkin "M.A. Marriage and Family Therapist" (Santa Barbara,, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin (Paperback)

The first two sentences of "One-Way Ticket" by Rita Lowenthal, are: "At 38, Josh was dead from a heroin overdose. In 1970 at the age of 13, he went from shooting hoops in the suburbs to shooting heroin in the ghetto.

Of course we want to know how? why? when and where? and how does a mother cope with this tragedy?

Rita Lowenthal tells us their story:hers and her son Joshs'. For Rita there was eternal hope that the next drug rehab. would present the magic cure. In her 25 year quest for a solution to Joshes' addiction she learned slowly how the system deals with drug addicts (more and more serious jail sentences). She also learned how impotent she was to enter that entrenched system. In Joshes' own words he tells her: "There is nothing you can do, mom. You can't compete with heroin."

We hear the voice of Josh through his letters from prison and from the streets he haunts. He, like his mother, is smart, funny, and a keen observer of people and places. His encounters in jails, in the family or with his girl friends are brilliantly observed and chronicled.

We get to know these two well--Rita and Josh, through the descriptive writing of their struggles to maintain a loving relationship under impossible circumstances.

I recommend this book highly, not only to those involved with addiction problems, but to all who have a social conscience and worry about our continuation of a failed drug abuse policy.

Eva Menkin, M.A.
Marriage and Family Therapist, Ret.
Santa Barbara, Ca.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Journey of a Courageous Mother, September 6, 2007

By 

Mary H. Kiger (Brentwood, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin (Paperback)

One-Way Ticket is the story not only of Josh Lowenthal, but of his courageous mother, Rita. How much easier to leave unasked the painful questions about how someone like Josh, with all the advantages of socio-economic position, rare intelligence and tremendous personal charm, could find himself battling his way through each and every day as a heroin addict. Rita Lownenthal re-lives the confusion, fear, frustration and abiding grief of mothering this wonderful young man who was a full fledged herion addict before he even had a glimpse of life's panoramic choices. Josh was a devoted musician. When I learned of his suicide, I could hear his tired voice saying, "take two." If he could read his mother's amazing tribute to his life of struggle, I know he would join me in saying, "Bravo!"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I just want to shoot dope and play music..., July 30, 2009

By 

quietstorm (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin (Paperback)

I knew Josh a little and was interested in knowing more about him, otherwise I would not have read it since I have a stack of unread books I'm trying to get to. But I imagine many readers or potential readers will be drawn to this book as a result of being affected by someone addicted. This review is for you.

I hope this book will help you find peace by making you realize there is little you can do to help an addict and that blaming yourself or ruminating endlessly is not valid or necessary.

Josh's story is a particularly vivid confirmation or example of this reality. Josh was blessed with looks, brains, talent, charisma and opportunity. (This is a good time to mention the book is an interesting read because Josh and the people in his life are very luminous.)

Rita Lowenthal conveyed the sad and prolonged mystery of dealing with a loved one addicted to heroin. I think she knew all along there was nothing much she could do. Josh would find his way out or he would sink. I also think she knew she would never be free or objective or detached from him...even if she invoked some tough love she would be involved to some degree as long as they both lived. We learn that she did not surrender or lose her mind or give up, she just endured. If you are in the group I directed this review towards, you should get the book and read it. It may help you cope.