Missbruk

Det här är en bok för dig som vill använda metoden återfallsprevention vid skadligt bruk och beroende av alkohol och narkotika. Boken består av fem delar. I den första delen beskrivs bakgrunden och teorierna som ligger till grund för metoden. I den andra delen presenteras en manual i tio lektioner tillsammans med ett stort antal arbetsblad för deltagare och behandlare. I del tre ges pedagogiska tips till behandlare och i del fyra beskrivs olika sätt att kombinera de båda metoderna KBT och MI i återfallsprevention beroende på problematik. I den femte delen presenteras olika sätt att arbeta med återfallsprevention.I denna andra upplaga har texten bearbetats och utökats. Helt nyskrivna avsnitt handlar om effektiva inslag vid substansbruk, om hur man arbetar med klienter som har neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar, NPF, och om klienter som har samsjuklighet i form av psykisk ohälsa. Boken innehåller också nya arbetsblad.Boken vänder sig till behandlare som möter klienter och patienter med substansbruk inom primärvård, psykiatri, socialtjänst och specialiserad beroendevård.

This fascinating book for mental health professionals explores emerging mindfulness and acceptance treatments for addictions of all kinds, including gambling addiction, binge eating disorder, pornography addiction, cigarette smoking, and substance abuse. The series of articles written by leading researchers in addiction and mindfulness therapies introduce the latest research on using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Each article illuminates the mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments that work best for particular addictive behaviours, reviews empirical data, and discusses future directions for research and treatment applications. Edited by Steven Hayes, one of the best-known clinicians working with acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions, his book will dramatically impact the way addictions of all kinds are viewed and addressed in therapy.

Alkohol- och narkotikaproblem är vanligt förekommande i vårt samhälle. Både de personer som har ett beroende och deras anhöriga drabbas, vilket är viktigt att beakta när samhället erbjuder vård, stöd och behandling. Välja väg är en kliniskt orienterad bok med omfattande forskningsbas som beskriver ett bra utredningsförfarande och grunderna för en kvalitativt god behandling och relevanta stödinsatser, oavsett metod och verksamhetsform. I fördjupande kapitel tar författarna upp bland annat motivation, psykiatrisk samsjuklighet, ungdomar, vård utan samtycke och individanpassning.Boken vänder sig till personal inom verksamheter som arbetar med personer som har alkohol- och narkotikaproblem och med samsjuklighet, samt till studenter som utbildar sig till exempelvis socionomer, psykologer, sjuksköterskor och beteendevetare.

Boken Missbruk, trauma och samsjuklighet redogör för att trauma är en av de viktigaste bakgrundsfaktorerna vid alkohol- och drogmissbruk. Därför bör traumabehandling vara självklart vid all behandling av missbruk. Budskapet är att missbruksproblematik är en komplex väv av samsjuklighet. För att framgångsrikt bemöta och behandla den som missbrukar är det nödvändigt att arbeta inom tre områden: trauma, anknytning och mentalisering. Detta oavsett vilken metod man annars använder.

Boken är indelad i två avdelningar, där del ett ger en teoretisk bakgrund och del två beskriver bemötande och behandling. Den vänder sig till personal inom HVB, socialtjänst och psykiatri samt andra yrkesgrupper inom missbruksvården.

Stefan Sandström är leg. psykolog och har arbetat med beroendeproblematik i mer än 35 år i Sverige och Finland. Han har lång erfarenhet som handledare inom socialtjänsten och driver idag egen verksamhet.

WINNER OF THE 2025 PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK PRIZERough Trade Book of the YearUncut Book of the Year Mojo Book of the YearA Guardian Book of the YearA Daily Mail Book of the YearA Financial Times Book of the YearA Resident Book of the YearA Telegraph Book of the YearA Daily Express Book of the Year'Will has finally written his masterpiece. I'm glad I could be of assistance' LAWRENCELawrence is the greatest pop star who never made it, his dreams of glory thwarted over the past five decades by bad luck and self-sabotage. At sixty-one, he set off on a new mission: to escape poverty, obscurity and the humiliation of kids at the bus stop laughing at him by writing a smash hit. But what is the cost of a dream?In 1980, Lawrence formed Felt, releasing ten albums and ten singles in ten years. In 1991, he reinvented himself with novelty-pop outfit Denim. Signed to EMI, riding the wave of Britpop, in 1997, Denim's song 'Summer Smash' became Radio 1's Single of the Week and looked like a sure-fire hit. Then Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. All copies were melted down. Crushing depression, addiction and homelessness followed... but in the face of it all, Lawrence never gave up.In Street-Level Superstar, bestselling author and journalist Will Hodgkinson follows Lawrence as he rebuilds his life. He gets mistaken for an old lady by an amorous pensioner, is reduced to dragging sacks of 2p coins to his local bank and wanders through London's distant suburbs in search of lyrical inspiration. As they walk together down rain-soaked streets, Will tells the story of Britain's most eccentric cult star. Will he write the greatest song the world has ever known before the year is out? And was it worth sacrificing everything - family, relationships, health, sanity - for art?

Att sluta dricka är ingen konst för en alkoholist – det har han gjort många gånger. Problemet är att lära sig att leva nykter. Återfallet är inte en plötslig händelse. Vägen dit är kantad av varningssignaler. Återfallet börjar inte med att han häller upp det första glaset eller tar den första tabletten. Det är slutpunkten på en lång, nedåtgående process. Dr Terence T. Gorski är en av USA:s främsta specialister när det gäller återfallsprevention. Tillsammans med Merlene Miller beskriver han här utförligt de varningssignaler som föregår återfallet – och hur man framgångsrikt förebygger eller avbryter den process som skapar suget efter drogen.

Närstående till personer med skadligt bruk av alkohol eller narkotika lider ofta av en ständig oro. Det är även vanligt att känna skam, dra sig undan från vänner och att ha en påfrestande hemsituation med bråk och konflikter.

I CRAFT behandlingsmanual vid substansbruk presenteras en evidensbaserad beteendeterapeutisk behandlingsmetod vid skadligt substansbruk: Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT). I CRAFT arbetar man direkt med partner, syskon, föräldrar, vuxna barn eller vänner till personen med ett skadligt bruk av alkohol eller narkotika som själv avvisar behandling. De närstående får lära sig strategier för att uppmuntra drogfrihet och att kommunicera på ett konstruktivt sätt. Målet med CRAFT är att hjälpa personen med drogproblem att minska sitt substansbruk och påbörja behandling – samtidigt som programmet ger de närstående möjlighet att öka sitt eget välbefinnande.

Denna kompletta manual med många exempel och dialoger riktar sig till behandlare. Manualen innehåller också praktiska checklistor, tips på hur man kan undvika vanliga misstag samt alla formulär och arbetsblad som behövs för att genomföra behandlingen. Den svenska utgåvan är fackgranskad av Carina Bång som är certifierad CRAFT-terapeut och CRAFT-handledare.

Jane Ellen Smith är professor i psykologi vid University of New Mexico.

Robert J. Meyers är chef för företaget Robert J. Meyers, PhD, and Associates, samt docent i psykologi och forskare emeritus vid University of New Mexico.

Sex and pornography addiction are growing problems that devastate the lives of partners as well as sufferers. Sex Addiction: The Partner's Perspective has been written to help partners and those who care about them to survive the shock of discovering their partner is a sex addict and to help them make decisions about the future of their relationships and their lives. First and foremost, it is a practical book, full of facts, and self help exercises to give partners a much needed sense of stability and control. Like its sister book, Understanding and Treating Sex Addiction, it includes case examples and survey results revealing the reality of life for partners of sex addicts.Sex Addiction: The Partner's Perspective is divided into three parts. Part I explores the myths surrounding sex addiction and provides up to date information about what sex addiction is and what causes it before moving on to explain why the discovery hurts partners so much. Part II is about partners’ needs and includes self-help exercises and strategies to help partners regain stability, rebuild self-esteem and consider their future. The controversial topic of co-dependency is also explored with guidance on how to identify it, avoid it and overcome it. Part III focuses on the couple relationship starting with the difficult decision of whether to stay or leave. Whatever the decision, partners will then find help and support for rebuilding trust and reclaiming their sexuality. This book has been written to help partners not only survive, but to grow stronger and move on with their lives – whether alone, or in their relationship. Readers will find revealing statistics and real life stories shared by partners who kindly took part in the first UK survey of sex addiction partners. This book will this book be a valuable guide for partners, but also for the therapists who seek to support them on their journey of recovery.

Till spelfriheten! är en manual som används vid behandling av spelberoende, individuellt eller i grupp, i strukturerad form utifrån kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT). Manualen har provats i en randomiserad kontrollerad studie i öppenvården och resultatet hittar du här: https://doi.org/10.1080/16506070903190245 Manualen innehåller åtta sessioner samt fyra uppföljande sessioner inriktade på återfallsprevention. Behandlare och personen eller gruppen med spelproblem identifierar vilka faktorer som utlöser ”spelsug”, hur man hanterar det och hur man kan motstå spelande. Man kartlägger vanliga ”tankefällor” (som till exempel illusion av kontroll över slumpen), motstånd mot förändring och strategier för att öka motivationen att hålla sig spelfri. Övning av problemlösning, exponering med responsprevention och kognitiv omstrukturering av tankar och självbild är basala principer vid förändringsarbetet och ingår i manualen. Varje session avslutas med hemuppgifter. Visa delar av manualen kan även nyttjas för självhjälp eller i självhjälpsgrupper.

Hur blir en person beroende av spel om pengar? Och hur kan problemen behandlas? 
Spelproblem drabbar årligen tiotusentals svenskar och kan leda till mycket allvarliga konsekvenser för både drabbade och närstående vad gäller ekonomi, hälsa och relationer. Från att tidigare ha setts som en privat fråga om moral är spelberoende nu accepterat som ett folkhälsoproblem och ett kliniskt tillstånd som går att förebygga och behandla.Kbt är den metod som i dag har störst vetenskapligt stöd vid behandling av spelproblem. Det här är den första forskningsförankrade boken på svenska som både beskriver själva beroendet och har en konkret vägledning till yrkesverksamma som möter människor i behov av hjälp.Behandla spelproblem med kbt vänder sig till personer som arbetar inom socialtjänst, vård eller omsorg eller har andra yrken som identifierar och behandlar spelproblem. Boken riktar sig också till studenter inom dessa områden.

A revolutionary new paradigm for understanding addictionWhy do people with addiction use drugs self-destructively? Why don’t they quit out of self-concern? Why does the rat in the experiment, alone in a cage, press the lever again and again for cocaine—to the point of death? In this pathbreaking book, Hanna Pickard proposes a new paradigm for understanding the puzzle of addiction. For too long, our thinking has been hostage to a false dichotomy: either addiction is a brain disease, or it is a moral failing. Pickard argues that it is neither, and that both models stifle addiction research and fail people who need help.Drawing on her expertise as an academic philosopher and her clinical work in a therapeutic community, Pickard explores the meaning of drugs for people with addiction and the diverse factors that keep them using despite the costs. People use drugs to cope with suffering—but also to self-harm, or even to die. Some identify as “addicts," while others are in denial or struggle with cravings and self-control. Social, cultural, and economic circumstances are crucial to explaining addiction—but brain pathology may also matter. By integrating addiction science with philosophy, clinical practice, and the psychology and voices of people with addiction themselves, Pickard shows why there is no one-size-fits-all theory or ethics of addiction. The result is a heterogeneous and humanistic paradigm for understanding and treating addiction, and a fresh way of thinking about responsibility, blame, and relationships with people who use drugs.

Nytryck kommer senast v. 40

Drawing on art, literature, and scientific research, scholar and therapist Kikan Massara delves into the Twelve Steps – the widely used and respected program of recovery. Developed in the early 20th century to address alcoholism, the Twelve Step program was later found to be an effective tool in aiding recovery for all types of addictions and compulsive behaviors.Now for the very first time, Twelve Step recovery is linked to a visual narrative. This inspiring edition features over 150 timeless and compelling works of art — from antiquity to the present day — to metaphorically describe a soulful path toward healing and transformation using these principles of recovery that continue to help millions.Featuring in-depth studies by leading experts in several converging fields, the book examines the history behind the Twelve Steps, from the program's origins in Depression-era America to building a foundation for recovery that incorporates concepts identified by psychologist C. G. Jung. The volume also offers relevant insight into the meaning of addiction in today's society. With striking imagery, literary quotations, and psychological references, the Twelve Step program is reintroduced to a wider audience as timely, accessible, and constructive. At a time of radical change and opportunity, this visual edition honors the transformative power of these universal principles and thoughtfully explores ways of aligning with them.

En stor andel av de personer som har missbruksproblematik lider samtidigt av psykisk ohälsa. Behandling och stödinsatser behöver riktas både mot missbruket och det psykiska lidandet för att kunna ge möjlighet till förändring. Kombinerade behandlingsinsatser för personer med missbruk och samtidig psykisk ohälsa presenterar vetenskapliga grunder och praktisk kunskap om samtidiga insatser vid medelsvår psykisk ohälsa (ångest, depression, personlighetssyndrom m.fl.). Boken ger en ingående beskrivning av nio olika behandlings- och stödinsatser: • kartläggning och diagnosticering • motiverande insatser • kognitiv beteendeterapi • läkemedel • fysisk aktivitet • familj- och närståendeinsatser • integrerade psykosociala insatser • samverkan • tvångsåtgärder. Till Kombinerade behandlingsinsatser för personer med missbruk och samtidig psykisk ohälsa hör en arbetsbok som ger klienten kunskap och vägledning för att bygga upp nya färdigheter för ett liv utan missbruk. Kombinerade behandlingsinsatser för personer med missbruk och samtidig psykisk ohälsa riktar sig till behandlare inom beroendeverksamheter, personal inom psykiatri eller kommunala stödinsatser.

'Illuminating, riveting, and – for those of us who are suffering, or know people who are – potentially life-savingly helpful.' Scott StosselThe last time Clancy Martin tried to kill himself was in his basement with a dog leash. He didn’t write a note.How Not to Kill Yourself is an affirmation of life by someone who has tried to end it multiple times. It’s about standing in your bathroom every morning, gearing yourself up to die. It’s about choosing to go on living anyway.In an unflinching account of his darkest moments, Clancy Martin makes the case against suicide, drawing on the work of philosophers from Seneca to Jean Améry. Through critical inquiry and practical steps, we might yet answer our existential despair more freely – and with a little more creativity.

Reclaim quality family time and establish healthy tech habits with expert help from Dr K, as featured on Diary of a CEO.Is your child spending too much time playing video games?Are games causing conflict and arguments?Whatever brings you here, I can help.Written to empower parents with knowledge and practical advice, this guide from the foremost expert on video game psychology provides skills, offers hope and sets out a clear road map to building healthy gaming habits that will equip your child for a fulfilling future.How much should I let them play? How do I get them to be interested in anything else?!Video games and managing screen time are a modern parenting problem with no blueprint and a rapidly changing landscape. Harvard-trained psychiatrist and former gaming addict, Dr Alok Kanojia – Dr K to his millions of followers – offers a proven, tested plan to help parents define, set and reinforce healthy boundaries around screens and video games.From communication strategies and advice on dealing with behavioural issues to the neurological reasons behind why tech is so addictive, How to Raise a Healthy Gamer is essential for parents of children of all ages.Based on Dr K’s own experience with gaming addiction and his neuroscientific and psychiatric expertise, this is an accessible and engaging eight-week, step-by-step program covering how to react when your child becomes irritable, rude, or seemingly directionless around screens. Specific advice is also offered for parenting neurodiverse children, including those with ADHD and autism.'The book you’ve been looking for – not only for your child but for yourself as well!' – Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Driven to Distraction and ADHD 2.0

Mainstream addiction science sees addiction either as a biomedical disease that renders one incapable of self-control or as a voluntary practice engaged in freely. In On Addiction, Darin Weinberg shows how this dynamic is deeply influenced by a series of binaries (free will/determinism, mind/body, objectivity/subjectivity) that hinder our understanding of addiction. Here, he offers a new theorization of addiction in which he breaks down these contradictions and incompatibilities, calling into question the taken-for-granted distinction between the “biological” and the “social.” To the extent that it is understood as a loss of self-control over one’s behavior, addiction, Weinberg contends, requires a supple theoretical framework that provides for movements into and out of self-control, for the social and natural processes that influence these movements, for the historical contexts within which they occur, and for the ethical ramifications of taking them seriously. To create this framework, Weinberg brings together history, ethnography, and critical theory as well as the clinical and social sciences. In this way, Weinberg takes a more holistic approach to examining the fundamental nature and ethics of addiction.

Heroinberoende förklarar mekanismerna bakom heroinberoende och hur en framgångsrik behandling kan se ut. Vi vet att heroinberoende leder till en medicinsk störning som rubbar hjärnans stressreglering, en störning som kan behandlas effektivt med underhållsbehandling. Här redovisas hur denna behandling med fördel kan bedrivas.

Boken är indelad i tre delar där del 1 ger de nödvändiga neurovetenskapliga grunderna, del 2 tar upp underhållsbehandling och del 3 belyser problematiken ur både ett brukar- och anhörigperspektiv. Ett kapitel tar även upp den komplicerade frågan om underhållsbehandling vid graviditet.

De allra senaste vetenskapliga rönen inom underhållsbehandling av heroinberoende presenteras och det ges en utförlig översikt av den internationella forskningen på området. Genomgången visar vilka de verksamma behandlingskomponenterna är och de vinster dessa skapar för både samhället och de drabbade.

Boken riktar sig till såväl yrkesverksamma med specialistkunskaper på området som till personal inom missbruksvård och social omsorg samt studerande i vård- eller medicinutbildning. Även brukare, patienter och anhöriga till drabbade kan här få kunskap och vägledning.

Sagt om boken"Detta är en bok som genom att presentera senaste vetenskapliga rön, även internationella forskningsresultat, är viktig läsning för studerande inom vård- och medicinutbildningar, för personal inom missbruksvård och social omsorg och för yrkesverksamma med specialistkunskaper på området." Ulla-Britt Westelius, lektör, BTJ, häfte 2011:07.

Om författarnaJohan Kakko är psykiater och med.dr, verksam vid Beroendecentrum Stockholm. Han har i över tio års tid arbetat med och forskat om underhållsbehandling av heroinberoende.

Many thousands have benefited from The Big Book and its simple but profound explanation of the doctrines behind Alcoholics Anonymous, which was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. This original 1939 edition outlines the famous 12 steps, and offers counsel for those who wish to join the program but doubt the existence of a higher power. It also contains encouraging personal stories, in which AA members relate their experiences with alcohol and how they found the path to sobriety.The Big Book has gone through numerous editions and remains the most widely used resource for recovering alcoholics. Only this original 1939 edition includes all 29 stories of the program's pioneers, which share the details of their full journey, including initial recovery, sometimes followed by relapse and eventual success. This edition also features the key to the solution claimed by Bill Wilson: a vital spiritual experience that allows followers to rediscover, or discover, God.This realistic portrayal of the program as offered by its founders has been lost in subsequent editions of the work, and is presented here to serve as a reminder that success comes in many forms.Reprint of the Works Publishing Company, New York, 1939 edition.

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 SENSATIONAL, INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: READERS ARE CALLING IT 'FROM THE HEART, HONEST AND REVEALING'; 'PERFECT'; 'A BRILLIANT BOOK'Pop legend Lulu looks back over her astonishing life with fresh eyes, reflecting on all she has learnt.From the tenements of Glasgow to the Royal Albert Hall and the glittering lights of Hollywood: Lulu's journey to fame and fortune is like no other British pop star. When she was 14 years old, she was invited down to London to sing, and the rest is history. She stepped into a part she played for the next 60 years. A part she played so well that she gradually lost who she was, becoming the version of herself she thought others wanted to see.The book charts the highs and the lows of one of the longest running shows in British rock and roll history. It is the story of one woman's determination to stay real, relevant and happy, and one which ultimately reveals a woman who is far stronger and far braver than anyone knew.This is a pop memoir like no other.

Arbetsbok med frågor och utrymme för anteckningar men med samma text som i Läsboken med samma namn.

WINNER OF THE 2025 PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK PRIZERough Trade Book of the YearUncut Book of the Year Mojo Book of the YearA Guardian Book of the YearA Daily Mail Book of the YearA Financial Times Book of the YearA Resident Book of the YearA Telegraph Book of the YearA Daily Express Book of the Year'Will has finally written his masterpiece. I'm glad I could be of assistance' LAWRENCELawrence is the greatest pop star who never made it, his dreams of glory thwarted over the past five decades by bad luck and self-sabotage. At sixty-one, he set off on a new mission: to escape poverty, obscurity and the humiliation of kids at the bus stop laughing at him by writing a smash hit. But what is the cost of a dream?In 1980, Lawrence formed Felt, releasing ten albums and ten singles in ten years. In 1991, he reinvented himself with novelty-pop outfit Denim. Signed to EMI, riding the wave of Britpop, in 1997, Denim's song 'Summer Smash' became Radio 1's Single of the Week and looked like a sure-fire hit. Then Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. All copies were melted down. Crushing depression, addiction and homelessness followed... but in the face of it all, Lawrence never gave up.In Street-Level Superstar, bestselling author and journalist Will Hodgkinson follows Lawrence as he rebuilds his life. He gets mistaken for an old lady by an amorous pensioner, is reduced to dragging sacks of 2p coins to his local bank and wanders through London's distant suburbs in search of lyrical inspiration. As they walk together down rain-soaked streets, Will tells the story of Britain's most eccentric cult star. Will he write the greatest song the world has ever known before the year is out? And was it worth sacrificing everything - family, relationships, health, sanity - for art?

THE HILARIOUS MEMOIR THAT SHOWS YOU HOW TO STOP DRINKING AND START LIVING - BY THE AUTHOR OF THE AUTHENTICITY PROJECT'The best 'quit-lit' on the market' - Reader review'An excellent book. It will help a lot of people' - Lorraine KellyWith a highly successful career in advertising, Clare Pooley never expected to find herself an overweight, depressed, middle-aged mother of three who was drinking more than a bottle of wine a day, and spending her evenings Googling, 'Am I an alcoholic?'This is the bravely honest and hilariously funny story of a year in Clare's life. A year that started with her quitting booze and then being given the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer. By the end of the year she is booze and cancer-free, two-stone lighter and with a life that is richer and more rewarding than ever before. Interwoven with Clare's story is research and answers to questions such as: How do I know if I'm drinking too much? How will I cope at parties? What do I say to friends and family? How do I cope with cravings? What if my partner still drinks? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Clare's book has supported me on most mornings through my first 20 days of sobriety and I could not be more grateful.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolutely amazing book. I found myself relating to everything she says. It's so real, and down to earth, and honest. Definitely helped me to make some big changes I know I needed to. Thank you Clare!"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Inspirational. Such an amazing read. Thoroughly enjoyed and could related to a lot of the journey Clare experienced. Thank you for being brave enough to share and help support others."

'In rich and arresting prose, and with radical originality, Dakwar expands initial, pragmatic insights about addiction into a far-reaching examination of authenticity, exploring how we define a happy life, a good life, a valid life.' - Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon A deeply humane and revolutionary new framework for understanding and treating addictionWhat causes addiction, and how should we treat it? Today it is understood primarily as a brain disease, yet in this bold reimagining of addiction, pioneering psychiatrist Elias Dakwar argues that this is false. It fails to explain, among other things, why many people can enjoy drugs without developing a dependency on them. Despite decades of neuroscientific research, we aren’t much closer to truly understanding the nature of addiction, nor to addressing it effectively.In The Captive Imagination, Dakwar argues that addiction is an existential challenge, requiring a more philosophical and multidisciplinary approach, as well as a lens through which we can better understand ourselves. Addiction stems from our desire for happiness: whether addicts or not, we all struggle against meaninglessness, and resort to false solutions to our despair. Dakwar also shows how our individual capacity for self-delusion relates to our collective self-inflicted crises, from environmental destruction to social injustice.Drawing on vivid stories of his own patients, path-breaking research, and decades of clinical experience, The Captive Imagination offers a novel framework for understanding and overcoming addiction, as well as human suffering more generally.

Through the vivid, true stories of five addicts, a neuroscientist explains how addiction happens in the brain, and what we can do to overcome it.The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease, based on evidence that brains change with drug use. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that 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. Brains are designed to restructure themselves with normal learning and development,but this process is accelerated in addiction when highly attractive rewards are pursued repeatedly. Lewis shows why treatment based on the disease model so often fails, and how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery, given the realities of brain plasticity. Combining intimate human stories with clearly rendered scientific explanation, The Biology of Desire is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally.

Stop smoking. Stop vaping. Start living. We’ve been sold a lie: that smoking and vaping help us relax. This Naked Mind: Nicotine exposes the truth – nicotine doesn’t relieve stress, it creates it.From the authors who helped thousands overcome problem drinking, Annie Grace and William Porter now bring their proven, science-backed approach to quitting nicotine. With clear strategies and powerful insights, they reveal how nicotine hijacks the brain, keeps us hooked and sabotages our health.Their approach will help you to: Cope with cravingsManage withdrawal symptomsIdentity and overcome triggersFeel supported every step of the wayThis book isn’t just about quitting – it’s your guide to reclaiming your well-being. Packed with practical tools, it will help you shift your mindset and take back control.Ready to break free from nicotine? This Naked Mind: Nicotine gives you the confidence to do it – for good.

Part confessional memoir, part vital guide, No Lost Causes Club is a compassionate exploration of what navigating sobriety looks like in our modern world, from the author behind the popular Instagram account @brutalrecovery. When she was told that her life expectancy could be as low as twenty-five if she did not stop drinking, Lauren felt absolutely nothing – then the sparks of despair. How was she here? Surely, sobriety was for middle-aged divorcées who’d lost everything, not young, struggling singers who didn’t have anything to lose in the first place? Besides, when alcohol is the only medicine that makes the world feel bearable, how can you possibly stop taking it?Six years later, Lauren has found her way to an intricate answer. Entwining practical, empathetic suggestions with intimate memoir, No Lost Causes Club is an intrinsically vulnerable and brutally honest exploration of what living a full life after you get clean looks like. From delving into the social complexities that often leave people hopelessly dependent on alcohol, to centring the struggles of those newly navigating sobriety, this book is a soothing balm for anyone wondering how to carve a beautiful life from a world that never made sense before.