Thinking Simply about Addiction: A Handbook for Recovery

Back when I first became interested in the science of addiction, I was fascinated by an article in Parabola magazine by Dr. Richard Sandor, a Los Angeles psychiatrist with many years of experience treating alcoholics and other drug addicts. In the article, Sandor suggested that a good deal of addictive behavior could profitably be viewed as a form of dissociation. I quoted from that article in my book about addiction, and now he has published a book of his own. Thinking Simply About Addiction: A Handbook for Recovery, focuses on the current controversy over Alcoholics Anonymous and its 12-Step variants, and takes a reasoned, thoughtful approach to the so-called spiritual aspects of recovery. While acknowledging that addiction is "correctly understood as a disease," Sandor diverges a bit from the mainstream disease theory of addiction, believing that addictions are "diseases of automaticity--automatisms--developments in the central nervous system that cannot be eliminated but can be rendered dormant." As examples of simple automatisms, Sandor cites bicycle riding and swimming, two behaviors it is impossible to "unlearn." Consider swimming: If, for some reason, it became extremely dangerous for you to swim (pollution, a heart condition, sharks), the problem is that "you literally cannot choose not to swim. Your only reliable choice is to stay out of the water, to become abstinent." Much of the confusion over addiction, the author maintains, is that "we miss the essential quality that defines addiction as a disease: Something someone has rather than something they're doing." Where does the "Higher Power" concept fit into all this? Sandor endorses the wider view taken by many psychologists and thinkers, from Gregory Bateson to C.G. Jung. In line with his theme of keeping it simple, Sandor suggests that thinking about a Higher Power may mean coming to realize that "the body's capacity to restore itself is part of something much larger than our operations and medications... If you like, it comes from God. If you don't like, it comes from a Higher Power, from Nature, from five billion years of the evolution of life on Earth, from the created universe, from whatever you want to call it." A sympathetic, informative look at the realities of addiction treatment and recovery.

I recommend this book for people struggling with addiction and those in the treatment industry. I have read this book twice and refer back to certain parts numerous times. It is a keeper. All four chapters of the book lay it all out... Is Addiction a Disease? None of the same tired arguments here. This chapter has a lucid discussion of the automaticity theory of addiction that is gaining momentum in the field. The author takes to task the black and white thinking of both sides of the disease debate. Both sides seem to have muddied what should be a simple discussion of the loss of control a person may or may not have with the substances of addiction. Why Me? This chapter reaches deep into what the author deems as the best research in the field. It best exemplifies the "Thinking Simply" part of the title for this book -- written for easy understanding. Does Treatment "Work"? This is a very informative chapter for caregivers and those in the treatment industry. Throw out all those claims of "success rates" by treatment providers. The author supports treatment, but gives a candid review of why it may or may not "work." Is A Spiritual Awakening Necessary for Recovery? The short answer is yes, but the author has a very wide definition of spirituality. Although the premise may seem like a downer: addiction as a metaphor for suffering, and in suffering a search for meaning... this chapter is actually very hopeful, upbeat, and positive for those struggling with addiction. This chapter might be good for addiction caregivers that wonder why abstinence doesn't necessarily lead to relapse-free recovery. The only negative about this book (for some): the constant drumbeat toward 12-step participation. In summary (P.98): "The goal of treatment is to help patients overcome obstacles to becoming dedicated, active members of a 12-step group." The author admits his bias (p. 156): "I stress the 12-step groups here because they are widely available, free, and adapted specifically for recovery from addiction." The author leaves open the possibility of finding other paths but the heavy emphasis is on the 12-step groups.

This is a must read for anyone with any level of interest in the topic of addiction. Within these pages one can explore the evolved medical meaning of addiction, the pathway out of this horrific condition and a solid set of suggestions for recovery. It is not often that an "expert" (in this case, the author has earned that rank) spells out what to demand from (what I refer to as) the recovery industry/experience but the author here spells out those expectations. This is all simply addressed within this excellent book in a field/topic to often crowed with sad nonsense. As devoted agnostic - I found much in this book stimulating to the 12 Step "spiritual" conversation and I found the link between Gurdjeff and C.S. Lewis as not only greatly amusing but also profound. If one is interested in the addiction topic or pondering the spiritual aspects of 12 steps - THINKING SIMPLY will be a highly helpful read.