In this book leading experts in the field of addictions report on key aspects of addictive disorders. They focus particularly on relapse, the long-term course of addiction to drugs or alcohol, and interventions to prevent relapse and promote recovery. A critical and highly complex public health problem, addiction is seen today as having biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects. This important volume brings together the major perspectives on addiction, treatment, and recovery along with the current findings of clinical and scientific research. For those working with addicted patients and those making policy decisions that affect treatment and its availability, this book is an essential reference.

Passages through Recovery presents an action plan for preventing relapse, one that can help us understand how recovery works and what is needed to move from active addiction to sobriety. "Abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is only the beginning of sobriety. It's the ticket to get into the theater, not the movie we are going to see."--Passages through RecoveryOne of the most important things we learn in recovery is that there really is a way out of all the misery--if we know which way to go. But abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is just the beginning of our journey, not our destination. And, that journey can be a rough one if we don't know what lies ahead.Based on the experiences of thousands of recovering men and women, Passages through Recovery presents an action plan for preventing relapse, one that can help us understand how recovery works and what is needed to move from active addiction to sobriety. Gorski's pioneering work describes six stages of recovery from chemical dependency and offers sound advice for working through the challenges of each stage--challenges that can create frustration and lead to relapse.Passages through Recovery clearly demonstrates that sobriety is more than just healing the damage. "It's a way of thinking, acting, and relating to others," Gorski writes, "that promotes continued physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health. The skills necessary for long-term sobriety are all directed at finding meaning and purpose in life."Use this book as a compass in your recovery to help you stay on course.

In this book leading experts in the field of addictions report on key aspects of addictive disorders. They focus particularly on relapse, the long-term course of addiction to drugs or alcohol, and interventions to prevent relapse and promote recovery. A critical and highly complex public health problem, addiction is seen today as having biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects. This important volume brings together the major perspectives on addiction, treatment, and recovery along with the current findings of clinical and scientific research. For those working with addicted patients and those making policy decisions that affect treatment and its availability, this book is an essential reference.

The authors of The Twelve Steps Revisited and Don't Help counsel the one out of every two Americans who, within the first year of recovery, fall back into the old patterns of dependency--by showing how to avoid and recover from these traps.