Addictive Personalities and Why People Take Drugs

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 0429910584
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (299 download)

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Book Synopsis Addictive Personalities and Why People Take Drugs by : Gary Winship

Download or read book Addictive Personalities and Why People Take Drugs written by Gary Winship and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-05-08 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Why do we take drugs? I haven't the faintest idea, but Gary Winship has a damned good go at telling me the answer. Some might say this is a largely academic book, but as an ex-psychiatric nurse and a Jo Public for the last twenty-five years, I'd say there's something in here for everyone. We've all taken drugs at some point in our lives (except, perhaps, my grandma) so one way to find out why is by reading this fascinating book.'- Jo Brand, comic, author, and actress

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 76 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (319 download)

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Book Synopsis Drugs, Brains, and Behavior by :

Download or read book Drugs, Brains, and Behavior written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Unbroken Brain

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Publisher : St. Martin's Press
ISBN 13 : 1466859563
Total Pages : 349 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (668 download)

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Book Synopsis Unbroken Brain by : Maia Szalavitz

Download or read book Unbroken Brain written by Maia Szalavitz and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2016-04-05 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER More people than ever before see themselves as addicted to, or recovering from, addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs, prescription meds, sex, gambling, porn, or the internet. But despite the unprecedented attention, our understanding of addiction is trapped in unfounded 20th century ideas, addiction as a crime or as brain disease, and in equally outdated treatment. Challenging both the idea of the addict's "broken brain" and the notion of a simple "addictive personality," The New York Times Bestseller, Unbroken Brain, offers a radical and groundbreaking new perspective, arguing that addictions are learning disorders and shows how seeing the condition this way can untangle our current debates over treatment, prevention and policy. Like autistic traits, addictive behaviors fall on a spectrum -- and they can be a normal response to an extreme situation. By illustrating what addiction is, and is not, the book illustrates how timing, history, family, peers, culture and chemicals come together to create both illness and recovery- and why there is no "addictive personality" or single treatment that works for all. Combining Maia Szalavitz's personal story with a distillation of more than 25 years of science and research,Unbroken Brain provides a paradigm-shifting approach to thinking about addiction. Her writings on radical addiction therapies have been featured in The Washington Post, Vice Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, in addition to multiple other publications. She has been interviewed about her book on many radio shows including Fresh Air with Terry Gross and The Brian Lehrer show.

The Addictive Personality

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780585195889
Total Pages : 131 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (958 download)

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Book Synopsis The Addictive Personality by : Craig Nakken

Download or read book The Addictive Personality written by Craig Nakken and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Second Edition" Since its publication in 1988, "The Addictive Personality" has helped people understand the process of addiction. Now, through this second edition, author Craig Nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. Going beyond the definition that limits dependency to the realm of alcohol and other drugs, Nakken uncovers the common denominator of all addiction and describes how the process is progressive. Through research and practical experience, Nakken sheds new light on: Genetic factors tied to addiction Cultural influences on addictive behaviors The progressive nature of the disease Steps to a successful recovery The author examines how addictions start, how society pushes people toward addiction, and what happens inside those who become addicted. This new edition will help anyone seeking a better understanding of the addictive process and its impact on our lives. "Craig Nakken, M.S.W." a certified chemical dependency practitioner, is a lecturer at the Rutgers School of Alcohol Studies and the Florida School of Addictions. A worker in the field of addictions for more than 25 years, Nakken has a private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota and lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to addiction studies.

Drug Use for Grown-Ups

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Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101981660
Total Pages : 305 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Drug Use for Grown-Ups by : Dr. Carl L. Hart

Download or read book Drug Use for Grown-Ups written by Dr. Carl L. Hart and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-01-11 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Hart’s argument that we need to drastically revise our current view of illegal drugs is both powerful and timely . . . when it comes to the legacy of this country’s war on drugs, we should all share his outrage.” —The New York Times Book Review From one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, a powerful argument that the greatest damage from drugs flows from their being illegal, and a hopeful reckoning with the possibility of their use as part of a responsible and happy life Dr. Carl L. Hart, Ziff Professor at Columbia University and former chair of the Department of Psychology, is one of the world's preeminent experts on the effects of so-called recreational drugs on the human mind and body. Dr. Hart is open about the fact that he uses drugs himself, in a happy balance with the rest of his full and productive life as a researcher and professor, husband, father, and friend. In Drug Use for Grown-Ups, he draws on decades of research and his own personal experience to argue definitively that the criminalization and demonization of drug use--not drugs themselves--have been a tremendous scourge on America, not least in reinforcing this country's enduring structural racism. Dr. Hart did not always have this view. He came of age in one of Miami's most troubled neighborhoods at a time when many ills were being laid at the door of crack cocaine. His initial work as a researcher was aimed at proving that drug use caused bad outcomes. But one problem kept cropping up: the evidence from his research did not support his hypothesis. From inside the massively well-funded research arm of the American war on drugs, he saw how the facts did not support the ideology. The truth was dismissed and distorted in order to keep fear and outrage stoked, the funds rolling in, and Black and brown bodies behind bars. Drug Use for Grown-Ups will be controversial, to be sure: the propaganda war, Dr. Hart argues, has been tremendously effective. Imagine if the only subject of any discussion about driving automobiles was fatal car crashes. Drug Use for Grown-Ups offers a radically different vision: when used responsibly, drugs can enrich and enhance our lives. We have a long way to go, but the vital conversation this book will generate is an extraordinarily important step.

The Biology of Desire

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Publisher : PublicAffairs
ISBN 13 : 1610394380
Total Pages : 175 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis The Biology of Desire by : Marc Lewis

Download or read book The Biology of Desire written by Marc Lewis and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 2015-07-14 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the "disease model" of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what it's supposed to do-seek pleasure and relief-in a world that's not cooperating. As a result, most treatment based on the disease model fails. Lewis shows how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery. This is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally.

Healing the Addictive Personality

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Publisher : Celestial Arts
ISBN 13 : 0307794997
Total Pages : 193 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (77 download)

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Book Synopsis Healing the Addictive Personality by : Lee L. Jampolsky

Download or read book Healing the Addictive Personality written by Lee L. Jampolsky and published by Celestial Arts. This book was released on 2011-06-22 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since 1991, Dr. Lee Jampolsky's self-help classic Healing the Addictive Mind has given well over 100,000 people around the world the tools to create significant change in their lives. Now he continues his proven and trustworthy blend of practical and positive psychology with HEALING THE ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY. Dr. Jampolsky's straightforward approach, based on firsthand experience, presents ways of healing addictive thinking, behavior, and destructive relationship patterns with forgiveness, compassion, and the potential for limitless opportunity through an eleven-week action plan.A personal note from the author: “Many people live in a self-imposed prison and don't even know it. I did. For years I was so busy building walls I did not see that I was imprisoning myself behind them. My addictive thinking and behavior became the bars of my cell. I denied feeling empty inside and instead looked for new things to acquire, substances to take, and goals to achieve in order to feel better about myself. Sometimes I felt momentarily free, powerful, and whole, but in the end my addictive cycle only compounded my loneliness and despair. If you recognize this pattern in yourself, this book is addressed to you. Today, I am able to tell you I now know what true freedom and happiness are and I offer the path that I intend to follow every day of my life.”Reviews:"This 178 page book is a miraculous Godsend because it goes deep to expose the profile of the addictive personality, and then broadens from there to show us how to recognize the characteristics of the addictive personality and understand why it develops in the first place. The layout of this awesome teacher helped me to see how I can go from a place of addictive thinking to having a truth-based personality.I liked how the negative core beliefs were laid bare, and the healthy counterparts were readily available because many times there is denial associated with addiction and it helped me see the true man behind the curtain and not just the illusions I have been living with. The cunning foe of addiction has become such a part of our society that I would recommend this crucial and charming champion to anyone at any stage of their spiritual growth and development. This precious gem will help many on the path to serenity and it has found it's way to my spiritual toolbox. Thanks, Dr. Lee for this most excellent way out.—Riki Frahmann www.mysticlivingtoday.com

Pathways of Addiction

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309055334
Total Pages : 330 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Pathways of Addiction by : Institute of Medicine

Download or read book Pathways of Addiction written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1996-11-01 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drug abuse persists as one of the most costly and contentious problems on the nation's agenda. Pathways of Addiction meets the need for a clear and thoughtful national research agenda that will yield the greatest benefit from today's limited resources. The committee makes its recommendations within the public health framework and incorporates diverse fields of inquiry and a range of policy positions. It examines both the demand and supply aspects of drug abuse. Pathways of Addiction offers a fact-filled, highly readable examination of drug abuse issues in the United States, describing findings and outlining research needs in the areas of behavioral and neurobiological foundations of drug abuse. The book covers the epidemiology and etiology of drug abuse and discusses several of its most troubling health and social consequences, including HIV, violence, and harm to children. Pathways of Addiction looks at the efficacy of different prevention interventions and the many advances that have been made in treatment research in the past 20 years. The book also examines drug treatment in the criminal justice setting and the effectiveness of drug treatment under managed care. The committee advocates systematic study of the laws by which the nation attempts to control drug use and identifies the research questions most germane to public policy. Pathways of Addiction provides a strategic outline for wise investment of the nation's research resources in drug abuse. This comprehensive and accessible volume will have widespread relevanceâ€"to policymakers, researchers, research administrators, foundation decisionmakers, healthcare professionals, faculty and students, and concerned individuals.

Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders

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Author :
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309439124
Total Pages : 171 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2016-09-03 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.

Addiction Is a Choice

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Publisher : Open Court
ISBN 13 : 0812697685
Total Pages : 202 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (126 download)

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Book Synopsis Addiction Is a Choice by : Jeffrey A. Schaler

Download or read book Addiction Is a Choice written by Jeffrey A. Schaler and published by Open Court. This book was released on 2011-09-30 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Politicians and the media tell us that people who take drugs, including alcohol or nicotine, cannot help themselves. They are supposedly victims of the disease of 'addiciton', and they need 'treatment'. The same goes for sex addicts, shopping addicts, food addicts, gambling addicts, or even addicts to abusive relationships. This theory, which grew out of the Temperance movement and was developed and disseminated by the religious cult known as Alcoholics Anonymous, has not been confirmed by any factual research. Numerous scientific studies show that 'addicts' are in control of their behavior. Contrary to the shrill, mindless propaganda of the 'war on drugs', very few of the people who use alcohol, marijuana, heroin, or cocaine will ever become 'addicted', and of those who do become heavy drug users, most will matrue out of it in time, without treatment. Research indicates that 'treatment' is completely ineffective, an absolute waste of time and money. Instead of looking at drub addiction as a disease, Dr. Schaler proposes that we view it as willful commitment or dedication, akin to joining a religion or pursuing a romantic involvement. While heavy consumption of drugs is often foolish and self-destructive, it is a matter of personal choice.

The Addicted Brain

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Publisher : FT Press
ISBN 13 : 0132542501
Total Pages : 237 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (325 download)

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Book Synopsis The Addicted Brain by : Michael J. Kuhar

Download or read book The Addicted Brain written by Michael J. Kuhar and published by FT Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Addicted Brain" explains clearly and vividly what has been learned about how and why some people become addicted and abuse drugs or other substances, the relatively long-term changes these substances can make in the brain, and the progress being made on treatments.

The American Disease

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Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 0195125096
Total Pages : 431 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (951 download)

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Book Synopsis The American Disease by : David F. Musto

Download or read book The American Disease written by David F. Musto and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1999 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The American Disease is a classic study of the development of drug laws in the United States. Supporting the theory that Americans' attitudes toward drugs have followed a cyclic pattern of tolerance and restraint, author David F. Musto examines the relationz between public outcry and the creation of prohibitive drug laws from the end of the Civil War up to the present. Originally published in 1973, and then in an expanded edition in 1987, this third edition contains a new chapter and preface that both address the renewed debate on policy and drug legislation from the end of the Reagan administration to the current Clinton administration. Here, Musto thoroughly investigates how our nation has dealt with such issues as the controversies over prevention programs and mandatory minimum sentencing, the catastrophe of the crack epidemic, the fear of a heroin revival, and the continued debate over the legalization of marijuana.

The Compass of Pleasure

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0143120751
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (431 download)

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Book Synopsis The Compass of Pleasure by : David J. Linden

Download or read book The Compass of Pleasure written by David J. Linden and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-04-24 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the New York Times bestselling author comes a "hugely entertaining" (NPR.org) look at vice and virtue through cutting-edge science As he did in his award-winning book The Accidental Mind, David J. Linden—highly regarded neuroscientist, professor, and writer—weaves empirical science with entertaining anecdotes to explain how the gamut of behaviors that give us a buzz actually operates. The Compass of Pleasure makes clear why drugs like nicotine and heroin are addictive while LSD is not, how fast food restaurants ensure that diners will eat more, why some people cannot resist the appeal of a new sexual encounter, and much more. Provocative and illuminating, this is a radically new and thorough look at the desires that define us.

Memoirs of an Addicted Brain

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Publisher : Doubleday Canada
ISBN 13 : 0385669267
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (856 download)

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Book Synopsis Memoirs of an Addicted Brain by : Marc Lewis

Download or read book Memoirs of an Addicted Brain written by Marc Lewis and published by Doubleday Canada. This book was released on 2011-10-04 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A gripping, ultimately triumphant memoir that's also the most comprehensive and comprehensible study of the neuroscience of addiction written for the general public. FROM THE INTRODUCTION: "We are prone to a cycle of craving what we don't have, finding it, using it up or losing it, and then craving it all the more. This cycle is at the root of all addictions, addictions to drugs, sex, love, cigarettes, soap operas, wealth, and wisdom itself. But why should this be so? Why are we desperate for what we don't have, or can't have, often at great cost to what we do have, thereby risking our peace and contentment, our safety, and even our lives?" The answer, says Dr. Marc Lewis, lies in the structure and function of the human brain. Marc Lewis is a distinguished neuroscientist. And, for many years, he was a drug addict himself, dependent on a series of dangerous substances, from LSD to heroin. His narrative moves back and forth between the often dark, compellingly recounted story of his relationship with drugs and a revelatory analysis of what was going on in his brain. He shows how drugs speak to the brain - which is designed to seek rewards and soothe pain - in its own language. He shows in detail the neural mechanics of a variety of powerful drugs and of the onset of addiction, itself a distortion of normal perception. Dr. Lewis freed himself from addiction and ended up studying it. At the age of 30 he traded in his pharmaceutical supplies for the life of a graduate student, eventually becoming a professor of developmental psychology, and then of neuroscience - his field for the last 12 years. This is the story of his journey, seen from the inside out.

Addiction

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Author :
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 0674264436
Total Pages : 213 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (742 download)

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Book Synopsis Addiction by : Gene M. Heyman

Download or read book Addiction written by Gene M. Heyman and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2010-10-15 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a book sure to inspire controversy, Gene Heyman argues that conventional wisdom about addiction—that it is a disease, a compulsion beyond conscious control—is wrong. Drawing on psychiatric epidemiology, addicts’ autobiographies, treatment studies, and advances in behavioral economics, Heyman makes a powerful case that addiction is voluntary. He shows that drug use, like all choices, is influenced by preferences and goals. But just as there are successful dieters, there are successful ex-addicts. In fact, addiction is the psychiatric disorder with the highest rate of recovery. But what ends an addiction? At the heart of Heyman’s analysis is a startling view of choice and motivation that applies to all choices, not just the choice to use drugs. The conditions that promote quitting a drug addiction include new information, cultural values, and, of course, the costs and benefits of further drug use. Most of us avoid becoming drug dependent, not because we are especially rational, but because we loathe the idea of being an addict. Heyman’s analysis of well-established but frequently ignored research leads to unexpected insights into how we make choices—from obesity to McMansionization—all rooted in our deep-seated tendency to consume too much of whatever we like best. As wealth increases and technology advances, the dilemma posed by addictive drugs spreads to new products. However, this remarkable and radical book points to a solution. If drug addicts typically beat addiction, then non-addicts can learn to control their natural tendency to take too much.

The Age of Addiction

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Author :
Publisher : Belknap Press
ISBN 13 : 0674737377
Total Pages : 337 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (747 download)

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Book Synopsis The Age of Addiction by : David T. Courtwright

Download or read book The Age of Addiction written by David T. Courtwright and published by Belknap Press. This book was released on 2019-05-06 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A mind-blowing tour de force that unwraps the myriad objects of addiction that surround us...Intelligent, incisive, and sometimes grimly entertaining.” —Rod Phillips, author of Alcohol: A History “A fascinating history of corporate America’s efforts to shape our habits and desires.” —Vox We live in an age of addiction, from compulsive gaming and shopping to binge eating and opioid abuse. Sugar can be as habit-forming as cocaine, researchers tell us, and social media apps are deliberately hooking our kids. But what can we do to resist temptations that insidiously rewire our brains? A renowned expert on addiction, David Courtwright reveals how global enterprises have both created and catered to our addictions. The Age of Addiction chronicles the triumph of what he calls “limbic capitalism,” the growing network of competitive businesses targeting the brain pathways responsible for feeling, motivation, and long-term memory. “Compulsively readable...In crisp and playful prose and with plenty of needed humor, Courtwright has written a fascinating history of what we like and why we like it, from the first taste of beer in the ancient Middle East to opioids in West Virginia.” —American Conservative “A sweeping, ambitious account of the evolution of addiction...This bold, thought-provoking synthesis will appeal to fans of ‘big history’ in the tradition of Guns, Germs, and Steel.” —Publishers Weekly

The Urge

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0525561455
Total Pages : 393 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (255 download)

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Book Synopsis The Urge by : Carl Erik Fisher

Download or read book The Urge written by Carl Erik Fisher and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-01-25 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Named a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker and The Boston Globe An authoritative, illuminating, and deeply humane history of addiction—a phenomenon that remains baffling and deeply misunderstood despite having touched countless lives—by an addiction psychiatrist striving to understand his own family and himself “Carl Erik Fisher’s The Urge is the best-written and most incisive book I’ve read on the history of addiction. In the midst of an overdose crisis that grows worse by the hour and has vexed America for centuries, Fisher has given us the best prescription of all: understanding. He seamlessly blends a gripping historical narrative with memoir that doesn’t self-aggrandize; the result is a full-throated argument against blaming people with substance use disorder. The Urge is a propulsive tour de force that is as healing as it is enjoyable to read.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick Even after a decades-long opioid overdose crisis, intense controversy still rages over the fundamental nature of addiction and the best way to treat it. With uncommon empathy and erudition, Carl Erik Fisher draws on his own experience as a clinician, researcher, and alcoholic in recovery as he traces the history of a phenomenon that, centuries on, we hardly appear closer to understanding—let alone addressing effectively. As a psychiatrist-in-training fresh from medical school, Fisher was soon face-to-face with his own addiction crisis, one that nearly cost him everything. Desperate to make sense of the condition that had plagued his family for generations, he turned to the history of addiction, learning that the current quagmire is only the latest iteration of a centuries-old story: humans have struggled to define, treat, and control addictive behavior for most of recorded history, including well before the advent of modern science and medicine. A rich, sweeping account that probes not only medicine and science but also literature, religion, philosophy, and public policy, The Urge illuminates the extent to which the story of addiction has persistently reflected broader questions of what it means to be human and care for one another. Fisher introduces us to the people who have endeavored to address this complex condition through the ages: physicians and politicians, activists and artists, researchers and writers, and of course the legions of people who have struggled with their own addictions. He also examines the treatments and strategies that have produced hope and relief for many people with addiction, himself included. Only by reckoning with our history of addiction, he argues—our successes and our failures—can we light the way forward for those whose lives remain threatened by its hold. The Urge is at once an eye-opening history of ideas, a riveting personal story of addiction and recovery, and a clinician’s urgent call for a more expansive, nuanced, and compassionate view of one of society’s most intractable challenges.