I'll Quit Tomorrow: A Practical Guide to Alcoholism Treatment

Following Johnson's own recovery from alcoholism, he introduced the concept of "early intervention" because it may solve the problem before completely destroying the patient's life. Johnson, a member of the faculty at Rutgers University School for Alcohol Studies co-founded the Johnson Institute, which aims to provide early intervention, and help employers deal with employee drinking. Luckily, this book was recommended to me when I was attending lectures on alcoholism at a treatment center back in the 80's. It came as a godsend at a time when I desperately needed information on this deadly disease.- I learned that when a person is in relationship to an alcoholic (family member, spouse, boss, friend. etc.) they can become an enabler.This may involve making excuses for the alcoholic, buying booze for them, picking him or her up at the bar, baling them out of jail, etc. This was vital information, as predictably the enabler will get as sick as the alcoholic in his thinking , as the disease progresses. Johnson doesn't mince words. He informs the reader "Alcoholism is a fatal disease, 100 percent fatal. Nobody survives alcoholism that remains unchecked. We would estimate that 10 percent of the drinkers in America will become alcoholic, and that these people will not be able to stop drinking by themselves." As the alcoholic spirals down into increasingly bizarre behavior, it's as if he (or she) is caught in quicksand, drawing those nearby, down with him. It's an insidious process. Johnson details all the various aspects of the illness, such as denial, projection (the process of unloading self-hate onto those close by), delusions, black-outs, repression, and euphoric recall (I had a blast last night, I was the belle of the ball), etc. This book is quite comprehensive in nature,providing not only great insights into the disease itself, but also into the concepts of early intervention and treatment for the alcoholic and the family, with the goal of recovery for all concerned. The knowledge I gained from this book helped save my life, and restore my sanity. I am extremely grateful for Vernon Johnson's efforts in this field.

This is a simply written, clear explanation of the disease of alcoholism. It is very difficult to understand the compulsion to drink if you haven't experienced it firsthand. This book will help those trying to understand the struggle, as well as those unsure if they are in the struggle. I also recommend it to non-recovering clinicians who are dealing with addicts in their work

This book is great at helping non-alcoholics understand alcoholics/addicts. Particulary the mind-set of the addicted person. It has great tools for family/friends. There are ways to help another person get help and hit bottom. Through love and compassion. I highly recommend this to anyone who is stuggling with trying to help someone who doesn't know they have a problem or doesn't want help. I wish you the best. - someone whose been on both sides and found the way out :)

This book, for me, answered the question: How do people who "know better" become alcoholics. The most profound concept in Johnson's book, in my opinion, was that people cannot become alcoholics unless their behaviors conflict with their value system. Johnson does an excellent job of theorizing the steps individuals take that lead them down the path of alcoholism. This book is a must read for alcoholics and those who love them.

This book is one of the best that I have read. It helped me along with a lot of other people I recommend this for anyone who has problems with alcohol