Book Review – Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery

In 2010, Barbara Sinor, PhD put out notices requesting peoples’ stories – anonymous or otherwise – of their experience with addiction.  It didn’t have to be their personal story of addiction; it could be about a loved one.  It could be about a prior struggle, their recovery, their continued abuse or their dealings with another in any phase of addiction.  Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery is this book.

Intermingled in these stories is the story of Barbara’s own son Richard’s struggle with his addiction.  She tells her story from the beginning of her marriage, through her divorce and beyond, and admits to her own “contribution” to her son’s fall.

I was intrigued by this book, knowing that the subject matter was true stories of addiction, because I personally have no experience – no real experience – with addiction.  I have had friends who I have suspected to be alcoholics.  I have a friend whose ex-husband has always struggled with drug addiction.  None of these have ever had a direct impact on me, though.  We have the addiction gene running through our family but it steered clear of us.  I was very fascinated with the thought of reading peoples’ personal stories of falling and rising.  Barbara’s story in and of itself was fascinating and heart breaking.  One interesting comparison was an older couple who have been using methadone for many years to keep themselves clean while in another story a drug addict was using methadone to keep her high.

Through the book the author describes statistics and explains different means of recovery, with the most common being the 12-step program, or giving over to a “higher power.”  Here’s where I struggle.  As an atheist, where do we turn if we are addicts?  I have no higher power.  I guess my “higher power” would have to be found within, digging down deep.

The author is very spiritual, and I sort of struggled with that as well.  After a devastating time in her life she finds solace in dreams and animals that in a sense “speak to her” and give her peace.  I just don’t grasp that, but I also don’t judge or disbelieve others who do.  I feel that whatever gets someone through pain, addiction or just difficult times in general is terrific – for them – and I’m glad they have their methods.

When I write this, I am not attempting to speak down of this book.  On the contrary, I recommend it to people who do have a spiritual belief or a belief in a higher power, because it could open up their possibilities of recovery.  The stories, Barbara’s included, are at once heartbreaking, uplifting and fascinating.

Barbara also speaks a lot of the need for money towards prevention rather than recovery.  Prevention means education, and that needs to start with the children.

I will close this with a quote from her book that quite frankly horrified and terrified me:

“Afghanistan produces approximately ninety-two percent of the world’s heroin supply; so sadly, we can expect many of our veterans to return home with an opioid addiction.  Are we prepared for this influx?  Statistics and research say that we are not.“

Barbara Sinor, PhD

For more information on the author and the other books she has written, go to http://www.drsinor.com/ (you can click on the link).