Terence T. Gorski

Relapse is a fact of life, which any addict or family member of an addict will tell you. Understanding the mechanisms of relapse in order to prevent it is therefore a matter of the highest importance. "Staying Sober" is certainly not the only book on the subject, but it is very useful.

Gorski & Miller's textbook comes with the option to buy a separate workbook, too. I have yet to work through that, but the textbook is a very good read.

What struck me is that the authors base their knowledge on experiences with actual addicts and use this as the starting point instead of taking AA or a 12 step programme as the point of origin. This impressed me. When that is said, the book is closely tied to the AA 12 step approach and way of thought. But even if you do not subscribe to the powerless dictum and the concept of the need for a Higher Power to keep you sober, there are still a lot of useful insights in the book. I doubt that any addict will not find many examples that could easily be taken from his or her own life. Also, the focus on identifying the warning signs of relapse, and making your own personal list of these in order to prevent relapse strikes me as a very useful tool.

Summasummarum, read it and grab whatever you can use in YOUR own life. I know I did.… (mais)