Customer Reviews

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide

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This book has changed my life. I knew I needed help, but didn't really know what kind, where to go, who to see, etc. Dr. Volpicelli paves the way for anyone who has an addiction by presenting options that you might never know existed...options that might be right for you. If you think you need help with drug or alcohol abuse, GET THIS BOOK! He offers almost 100 different websites, books, resources etc. in an appendix that is detailed and comprehensive. Dr. Volpicelli and Maia Szalavitz present information and options to the reader with respect and dignity. The book is written in a way where you feel YOU have the ability to choose the treatment that would be right for you. They tell you how to choose treatment that would best match your needs, what criteria to look for, and what to expect as part of your recovery. I think that was the scariest part for me before I read this book...the fear of the unknown. After reading the book, and rereading certain chapters, I felt armed with the knowledge I needed to take that first step. If you're having a love/hate affair with an addiction, and want to get a grip, get this book. It may change your life. For the first time in 10 years I feel there is hope for me and I owe it all to Recovery Options: The Complete Guide.

It may seem trite to say but this book literally saved my life. After doing tons of research and making many telephone calls, this was the ONLY resource about addiction that covered the topic honestly, compassionately and COMPLETELY. It provided me with the clear, unbiased information I needed about addiction and recovery and helped me make an informed choice about treatment.

It was clear to me from the start that the authors have a very open minded approach, non-judgemental approach to addiction treatment that is unusual and very refreshing. They make it clear that there is no one "correct" way to deal with addiction. Instead they explore the pros and cons of all available treatment methods so that each reader can decide for him or herself, which course of action is appropriate.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that they, a loved one or a friend might have an addiction problem and to anyone who wants honest, up to date information based on scientific research. The authors include many examples of real people (including themselves) which makes this book easy to read and relate to.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Addiction Treatment Forum (www.atforum.com) book review; Recovery Options: The Complete Guide; released June 16, 2000 (reviewed by S. Leavitt, PhD, editor, A.T. Forum) -- The 23 chapters and more than 300 pages of this new book by Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD and Maia Szalavitz provide a complete overview of psychoactive drugs of abuse and their effects, an in-depth look at the many ways to view alcoholism and other drug addictions, and a review of addiction treatment research, modalities, and pharmacotherapies.

Experienced addiction treatment staff at all levels will find this book to be an excellent review, along with some interesting updated perspectives. It definitely should be required reading for new staff members and trainees.

Volpicelli, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and senior research scientist at the University of Pennsylvania Addiction Treatment Research Center, was an initial investigator of naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism. However, his outlook in this book is extremely well-balanced, without lobbying for any particular treatment approach as a "one size fits all" solution. In fact, the "Penn Paradigm," which he advocates, stresses that "it is what the patient considers important, not what the treatment program is pushing, that matters."

Szalavitz, an experienced and well-known journalist specializing in health, science, and drug policy, is savvy to the real world concerns and fears of patients and their loved ones. Her philosophy of treating addiction is "if it helps people, do it," and the underlying posture of the entire book is, "Patients given a menu of treatment options do significantly better than those who are simply told what to do."

Case studies and anecdotes, used liberally throughout, vividly illustrate important principles in the book and make for very interesting reading to hold one's interest. The book is obviously well researched and evidence based, although we would have preferred a more thorough referencing of the sources used.

Then again, the primary audience isn't researchers or healthcare professionals, as denoted by the book's subtitle: How You and Your Loved Ones Can Understand and Treat Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Volpicelli writes that "to get the best care, patients themselves need to know what to look for -- because many professionals have too much of an attachment to their own ideas of what should work to take into account individual differences."

While that statement might perturb some professionals, most will agree with the authors that educated consumers of addiction treatment make the best patients. The one caveat is that this first-of-its-kind book exploring all treatment options may be challenging reading for some persons and getting the most from it would require a commitment to take more responsibility for one's own treatment success. It may not be for everyone but, as suggested earlier, one size needn't fit all; but this book could help many people.

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide (ISBN 0-471-34575-X, paperback, $15.95) is a Wiley book available at local bookstores or by calling 1-800-225-5945. In Canada, call 1-800-567-4797. Also available at www.amazon.com ($12.76 + shipping) and from other online booksellers.

Dr Volpicelli and Maia have put together a wonderful book, full of sound advice and unbiased information. Great for addicts, health-care workers, and just as importantly, friends and relatives of people with substance abuse problems. An absolute "must".

The first guide of its kind to hit the shelves -- balanced, compassionate, helpful, clear and thorough. Goes far beyond most mass-market books on recovery, which focus on one or two programs or treatments as the only answer to addiction, regardless of the individual's circumstances, belief system, or preferences. Will be invaluable to anyone seeking treatment options for themselves or to help an addicted loved one, friend, patient, or colleague.

It's great to have straight talk about the whole range of recovery options available from one source, with a minimum of axe-grinding. People struggling with addictions and their friends and families will find this an invaluable resource. Personally I'm a bit more positive about 12 step and more skeptical of some of the alternatives than the authors, but what's important is that they're all in here and the authors make a serious attempt to evaluate them objectively. We all know someone who needs this book!

This was an assigned book for a college course.

Some things I liked and found helpful:
*Bulleted list of highlights at some chapter conclusions.
*Case studies and personal accounts from those who have entered the various treatment programs
*Counseling models, hints, and experiences in dealing with ambivalence, conflict and challenges.
*Family member involvement and inclusion in therapy
*Discussion on lesser known options for addiction in treatment methods.
*Detailed and careful discussions regarding the options for alcoholism and heroine addiction, such as harm reduction, maint., or drug therapy models.
*Co author's personal accounts of her addiction experiences.
*Strategies and questions to ask before enrollong in a treatment center.
*His discussion of the holistic approach to treatment.
*Horrer stories of bad treatment models
*Resource list at end of book

What I found lacking:
*Unequal attention and information on various vices. Some topics/addictions ignored while others overemphasized (see discussions on alcohol and opiates for example of beating the dead horse).
*Resource list at end of text seems limited. Most listings are Universities and church/cult groups. This could and should be broader.
*Inconsistent formats in Chapters. For example, some have key points lists and some do not.

This was a textbook, required reading for a college course but others (family and friends of those addicted or the addict himself) might benefit as well from the material. The authors take a refreshingly human approach instead of the media model which paints the 'patient', the person seeking help (the addict)as some depraved subhuman cretin.

For those who are suffering from some addiction, this text offers some very helpful strategies for plotting your most ideal path to better health and yourrecovery options including worst and best case scenarios and easy strategies for getting the most ideal care for yourself.

The case study stories make for interesting and helpful reading.

Counselors, rehab centers, therapists and anyone who provides addiction recovery, or addiction related services should have a few copies of this book available for clients and their families.

I got this book to research addiction options, and it proved to be very informative and helpful. I hadn't realized how many viable options are available to those who might be interested. Smooth transaction, too.

Helps me live on a day to day basis without self pitty and getting drunk