This book is one of many that I’ve read as I’m at a bit of a loss. So I decided to try and educate myself and was surprised that most of my initial searches are books or memoirs about how devastating addiction is.. a drug romance.. or a combination of these two. Finally a good, easy read that not only offers support and hope, but actually gives proven reasons WHY MOST REHABS FAIL. It’s all based on relapse, and it makes sense as the author presents a showcase and not-so-gentle dissection of the most popular treatment options. I can’t speak for everyone, but having a cousin with terrible addiction and being an only child she is like my sister and I have been trying to figure out the best type of program. Well, this book offers a real look at the issue… the author really did his/her research for this b/c it seems like the examples of treatment are based on how well they can provide real everlasting recovery. I really liked the fact that relapse is taken so seriously, b/c this is the biggest problem for many families (I can speak for several I know personally that would benefit from this book as I did) and it somehow fades from your mind after a long-term dependency. Personally I’ve watched many different programs fail for my cousin, but I always thought it was HER that was the problem. I’m not trying to say that she isn’t responsible for many of her problems and her ex-husband, my aunt, and even myself have probably been what I’ve heard called ‘enabling’ in other books… I don’t think love should be discouraged and this book actually turns it around and shows the actual reason why so many places just end up being a failure: the programs are flawed! Yes the person has made bad decisions, but having heard this disease that is incurable crap and then going into treatment, being told (by her and many, MANY counselors) that she would be OK after treatment and guess what happens? If you’ve been there you probably know what I’m going to say; yes she relapes. She has never even made it an entire year in the better part of a decade using hard street drugs (even getting to the point of heroin use… started with a few pills… it was slow and we were in denial as much as she was for a long time; I can see that now) and has tried everything you could think of. I was hoping to find some homeopathic remedy, but after reading this book it actually makes sense. I could never cover all the salient points the author makes but he/she (pretty sure it’s a he though, unless girls are named Archie sometimes) basically goes through every common rehab you will see advertised and make it so clear why they do not work.. at least not w/ any consistency. What’s most important for this issue? I’d say not relapsing would be most important… but the fact is, there is a very unique program that is going to be much better than any last-resort self-help remedies I was looking for when I came across this book. I glad I bought it on a whim and it’s an easy and clear read, but also detailed enough to actually explain what strangely no doctor or counselor has been able to (in fact, b/c I’m just a ‘cousin’ they won’t discuss much w/ me anyway… at least nothing specific to her case b/c they say it’s against the law? I think that’s a cop-out but I know there is confidentiality and all, but still a doctor or counselor has never provided me any logical reason why she keeps messing up again after her mother and I spend thousands of dollars for 30 days of what? Not very much apparently… and this book could have saved us a lot of money. We (my aunt and myself) are now finally in the process of enrolling her into a simple, but actually proven 70% success rate treatment center in the mid-west. We live on the east coast region of the U.S. and there is nothing here that has worked, I’ve learned how bad this replacement drug for drug ideas are (which I always suspected but you think they’re making progress, it’s an illusion though. Most importantly the author was spot-on right about the AA meetings, she tried that too, and like a character (fictional I think just as an example, but sounds like it may have been something the he dealt w/ personally b/c my cousin made a ‘friend’ in AA back in Pittsburgh… I wasn’t a healthy friendship and this was a sponsor?!?!? you’ve got to be kidding me! At least I don’t feel so dupped and alone, but I do regret not reading this book years ago, it could have saved her life I think. Anyways, I just want to let people know that there is a totally different approach that I’d never heard of called Narconon, but it’s not the N.A. which I thought it was at first…. NO, they are apparently very different. Mr.Nash explains how and why offer treatments don’t work very well and why this different program does work so well. They must not advertise much b/c I hadn’t even heard of them (I’ve asked for every referral option available as well! So were these secretaries and ‘professionals’ not aware of this or do they just not…

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Dr. Shaverson has pointed out extremely well the failings of our treatment system for addictions that primarily hires recovering people who are poorly trained at best, untrained at worst to treat what a highly trained specialized counselor or psychologist should be handling. Dr. Shavelson also adeptly points out that a disease is normaly treated while it’s in progress, and one does not get treatment for drug addiction until they are clean! I recommend this reading to all who believe that ‘AA,’ ‘NA,’ etc., are the only way to treat addictions, and that only the ‘recovering’ person can treat addictions! Ronald E. Hestand, MA, MS, EdD(Candidate), Registered Addictions Specialist

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Over 2 million Americans in prison, another million each year arrested on drug charges, economic development tied grimly to building prisons and jails. America made a wrong turn somewhere. It isn’t like we don’t know where and when. It was when we lost faith in the ability of therapists to treat addicts, became afraid and decided they must go to jail and for longer and longer periods of time. Those who understand addiction know that jail sentences do not cure it, regardless of the length. But, judges and prosecutors and victims and voters don’t care. They want to feel safe. So the burden falls on those of us who believe drug treatment is a better alternative. And our confidence is shaken by pretty low success rates. Lonny Shavelson has discovered what most have missed. We cannot clean up the addicts until we clean up the treatment system. The system has built a career on convincing us that if someone does not do well in recovery it is not the fault of the therapy or therapist. “The addict just didn’t want it badly enough,” they say. Not true, Shavelson argues. His book is a must read for policymakers looking for what Shavelson calls, “the elusive secret to effective rehab.” It is coerced treatment, make ‘em go and make ‘em stay long enough for it to work. But…and this is the key to Shavelson’s book…the “secret lies…not only in coercing addicts into programs, but in coercing the programs to do rehab right.” No legislator or governor should spend another nickel on treatment until they read this book and put it to work in the treatment system. Treatment folks should read it as a “self help” guide. Hold up the mirror to your face! For all of you, a curious thing will happen as you read this book. You will come to understand that no one just becomes an addict. Sure some make bad choices but for most the bad choices were made for them. Childhood traumas, sexual abuse, genetic predisposition. As you read about the lives of the 5 addicts Shavelson tells us about, you find yourself…caring. If we are going to meet this challenge, that is what we must do. Caring is the elusive answer. We must care enough to do what we need to do. For anyone who is involved in the substance abuse issues at any level, this book is required reading. Wonderful book.

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