The Heart of Addiction: A New Approach to Understanding and Managing Alcoholism and Other Addictive Behaviors (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Len, a forty-three-year-old man with long-standing alcoholism, had managed to stay sober for six months..." (more)
Key Phrases: producing physical addiction, addictive act, nondrug addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, United States, Pathological Gambling (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It may be time for a closer look at some of our assumptions about addiction. Between the predominance of 12-step programs and incorrect information issued by the press, thousands of people are getting misinformation instead of the help they need. Lance Dodes, in his book The Heart of Addiction, reexamines common myths and provides a world of new recommendations aimed at helping anyone with an addiction, be it to gambling, alcohol, or prescription medications. Rather than focusing on the specific object of addiction, he chooses instead to look at the common desires and emotions present in anyone with addiction issues.

Through years of private practice and work in substance-abuse clinics, Dodes has noticed a pattern behind addiction--a pattern of anger, helplessness, and shame, coupled with a desire for immediate escape from these feelings. In presenting multiple composite cases, he shows us repeatedly that addiction is more than an uncontrollable desire for the substances; it is a behavior pattern with deeply emotional roots. Included are detailed explanations of differences between physical tolerance, abuse, and addiction, as well as an unusual questionnaire that focuses on the underlying reasons for drinking, rather than the more traditional one that covers specific amounts, methods, and results of imbibing. Separate chapters discuss particular issues of teens and couples, and special recommendations for seeking treatment are also included. --Jill Lightner

From Library Journal

In a study based on 25 years of professional practice, clinical psychiatrist Dodes (Harvard Medical Sch.) shares his refreshingly new insights into treating addictive behaviors. Rebuffing shallow explanations of these problems (such as categorizing addictions as diseases), Dodes instead explains the emotional underpinnings of addictive behaviors, revealing that they are preceded by feelings of helplessness or powerlessness. Working with addictive behaviors is one of the most difficult challenges faced in the helping professions, and, as the author frankly states, efforts are further hindered by the classic myths of addictions, including the notion that people are addicted to the things that are addictive and that "addicts" should always be treated by someone who also has the addiction. Filled with realistic case examples, this new approach challenges the prevalent thinking in professional practice while explaining why people feel an impulse to engage in unproductive addictive behavior and what they can do about it. Highly recommended for counselors, psychiatrists, and university libraries supporting helping profession curriculums. Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060198117
• ISBN-13: 978-0060198114
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #901,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thought--provoking and important presentation of ideas, May 23, 2003

By	J. Manly "healthychoices" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a licensed social worker and certified substance abuse counselor, I found the author's presentation intriguing--for both professional mental health providers and for those struggling with issues of addiction. He makes the case for more individualized treatment, especially the integration of past history with present issues. (In other words, WHY does the addict want to use WHEN he/she does?) According to the author, addiction is a personal and unique response to learned helplessness.) His conceptualization of addiction is one I'd like to see offered as an option to consider for all people seeking treatment for addiction, especially those who struggle with maintaining sobriety and feel stuck in the revolving door.

That said, his limitation is derived from his strength; he focuses solely on the individual. Unfortunately, he does not address what I see as an equally important consideration, the individual in the environment. Addiction will remain such an attractive alternative, especially to our youth, as long as we focus only on negative behaviors such as addctions, and neglect to provide ready access to programs that develop competencies in a wide range, good community recreational programs, and options for training and jobs.

The case history presentation makes for easy reading. The author's credentials and experience merit consideration from a wide range of readers.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible book -- highly recommended!, June 5, 2002

By	A reader in New York (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

You do not have to see a therapist to benefit from this book! This is the best book I have ever read about addiction. I found it to be different from every other book I've ever seen about this topic, and it has been enormously helpful to me, which I have to say was a big surprise given my experience with other books. The author is thoughtful, fair-minded, and compassionate, and the case histories are wonderful. This book really is in a class by itself, because it talks about the emotional basis of addictions in a way that I haven't seen anywhere else. If you are involved with 12-step programs, I personally think this book is perfectly compatible with them. But whether you have been in 12-step programs or not, this is a must-read book. I highly recommend it to anyone with addictive or compulsive behavior.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, January 31, 2003

By A Customer

What a brilliant book! Dr. Dodes crafts an incisive, kind and compelling thesis about what drives addictions. The book is filled to bursting with illuminating case studies, many of which will apply to yourself or loved ones. Whatever the problem, he's got you covered. The writing is pitch perfect and the thinking is lucid. Dodes is the first author I've read who is really on to something. This book should be required reading for anyone touched by addiction.