Download or read book Trouble Is a Gift A Story of Addiction Recovery and Hope written by James S. Cusack and published by S and J Publishing. This book was released on 2013-04-01 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: About the Book Trouble Is a Gift is the story of a recovered alcoholic who humbly asked for help in finding a purpose and meaning in his life, whose prayer was answered, and who then turned his dream into a reality devoted to the care and treatment of millions of sick and suffering addicts and alcoholics. James S. Cusack, alcoholic, caregiver, and astute businessman, recounts his inner struggles and self-doubt, the stages of his recovery from alcohol addiction, and the moment of clarity when his mission came to light and he saw how, with the help of God and a Twelve-Step program, he could fulfill his purpose. Cusack writes with candor and sincerity of his early upbringing in Manhattan, his family s move to Queens, and his boyhood as a tough street kid; then takes us through his difficult times in the U.S. Air Force, where he discovered the therapeutic value of discipline; and through the hard-drinking years that followed his Honorable Discharge and led to his sobriety. In the early years of his recovery, Jim focused mainly on getting sober, working and enjoying success in the trucking business and insurance sales. In time, he began helping others to sober up, meeting with them in the back room of a candy store in Astoria, Queens, and touching their lives with the love, warmth, and honesty that had been given to him. Feeling an ever-greater need to find his mission in life, in 1965, Jim brought his prayer for direction to the Shrine of North American Martyrs, in Auriesville, New York. Shortly thereafter, his prayer was answered when he was hired to manage Glen Acre Lodge in Glen Spey, NY, one of the very earliest retreat centers for alcoholics. As the success of his work gained attention, Jim became part-owner of the Lodge and landed his first big account with the New York City Police Department with the help of Msgr. Joseph Dunn, who developed the Department s Employee Assistance Program. In time, fireman, sanitation workers, and other city employees suffering from alcoholism were also sent to Jim for help getting sober. Jim s story continues through numerous twists, turns, and fateful encounters, including his first meeting with Sue, now his wife and partner in his life work, and several changes of location before coming upon the resort in the Catskills that is now known as Villa Veritas. About the Author A pioneer in the field of chemical dependency treatment, James S. Cusack, CASAC, NCAC II, NCRS, offers his story as an example to all those brave individuals determined to overcome obstacles and turn liabilities into assets. Himself a recovered alcoholic of 60 years, Jim learned through helping other alcoholics find their way to sobriety that the gift is in the giving, and made his service his career. In his 50 years working with those suffering from chemical dependency, Jim has received countless honors acknowledging his groundbreaking accomplishments. In 1981, he and his wife Sue closed on the purchase of a Catskill resort which, through their dedicated efforts, has become Villa Veritas. In 2011, Jim and Sue established the Villa Veritas Foundation, Inc., to safeguard their mission and carry on a 40-year legacy of helping and caring for the chemically dependent. Jim serves as chairman of the board of Villa Veritas Foundation, Inc., and Sue, as Foundation president. They are committed to maintaining their hands-on, individualized approach to ensure that each of the thousands of alcoholics and addicts who pass through the Villa every year receives the love, care, and opportunity to find a new life in recovery he or she deserves. Jim, at age 83, continues to do what every recovered alcoholic with a mission should be doing: He s living one day at a time, and planning his next endeavor.

Download or read book Addiction and Recovery written by Martha Postlethwaite and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2019-02-01 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Companionship for the lifelong journey of recovery In Addiction and Recovery: A Spiritual Pilgrimage, Martha Postlethwaite--pastor and a person in recovery--reflects on her pilgrimage of healing through valleys of despair and vistas of resurrection. Addiction and Recovery is not just Postlethwaite's story, though. She also draws on the wisdom of pilgrims who have walked other paths to explore themes such as surrender, truth telling, shame, powerlessness, grace, forgiveness, and resurrection. Together, these chronicles bring hope to people who struggle with the disease of addiction and to those who love them. Each chapter ends with questions to reflect on with conversation partners or in a journal, and a spiritual practice. The spiritual practices are related to the chapter themes and serve as samplers, but they can be woven into the reader's own pilgrimage. Readers will recognize themselves in these stories and reflections, learn that they are not alone, and find reasons to hope as they make their own pilgrimage.

Download or read book Addict in the Family written by Beverly Conyers and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-10-26 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The family recovery classic, Addict in the Family, has been revised and updated to offer parents and other family members even greater support when faced with the reality of a loved one’s addiction. Solid, actionable advice and information about what helps and what doesn’t—and how to care for themselves—make this an indispensable guide. For families of addicts, fear, shame, and confusion over a loved one’s addiction can cause deep anxiety, sleepless nights, and even physical illness. The emotional distress family members suffer is often compounded by the belief that they somehow caused or contributed to their loved one’s addiction—or that they could have done something to prevent it. Addict in the Family is a book about the pain of addiction, but more importantly it is a book of comfort, understanding, and hope for anyone struggling with a loved one’s addiction. As the compelling personal stories reveal, family members do not cause their loved one’s addiction—nor can they control or cure it. What family members can do is find support, set boundaries, detach with love, and eventually discover how to enjoy life more fully. This book helps them do just that—whether the loved one achieves recovery or not.

Download or read book Long Walk Out of the Woods written by Adam B. Hill and published by Central Recovery Press. This book was released on 2019-12-17 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A physician shares the darkest depths of his depression, suicidal ideation, addiction, and the important lessons he learned through years of personal recovery. Pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician Dr. Adam B. Hill suffered despair and disillusionment with the culture of medicine, culminating in a spiral of depression, alcoholism, and an active suicidal plan. Then while in recovery from active addiction, he lost a colleague to suicide, further revealing the extent of the secrecy and broken systems contributing to an epidemic of professional distress within the medical field. By sharing his harrowing story, Dr. Hill helps identify the barriers and obstacles standing in the way of mental health recovery, while pleading for a revolutionary new approach to how we treat individuals in substance use recovery. In fighting stereotypes/stigma and teaching vulnerability, compassion, and empathy, Hill’s work is being lauded as a road map for better practices at a time when medical professionals around the world are struggling in silence.

Download or read book Believable Hope written by Michael Cartwright and published by Health Communications, Inc.. This book was released on 2012-09-04 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A premiere addiction industry trailblazer and the "father of dual diagnosis" shares the life-changing approach to end any addiction, which has helped tens of thousands of people nationwide.

Download or read book From Dope to Hope written by Tim Ryan (Businessman) and published by . This book was released on 2017-03-15 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This is the addict's journey: how it happens, how it progresses, and how it ends. Fortunately, this is also the journey of recovery: how it happens, and how it blossoms. There is always hope." --"Dr. Drew" Pinsky, M.D.Heroin addiction didn't make Tim a better person. It stole more than half of his life. But he's dedicated every waking minute since walking out of prison to dealing hope to addicts and their families. By his own account, Tim Ryan shouldn't be here. But as he states, "Where there is life, there is hope." Known as The Hope Dealer, Tim is a successful entrepreneur, grateful recovering heroin addict and alcoholic, nationally ranked barefoot water skier--and truth-talking, convicted felon.*As a business leader in a high-tech industry, Tim made and lost millions. *As a father and husband, Tim introduced his own son to deadly drugs. *As a heroin addict, Tim is a walking miracle. He's overdosed eight times, was pronounced clinically dead three, and suffered two minor heart attacks. He's been arrested more than ten times and served prison time alongside known gang leaders--many of whom became his closest confidants in recovery.*As the founder of A Man in Recovery Foundation and motivational speaker, Tim's mission is to help one addict at a time transform their lives from dope to hope.Tim has been a featured thought leader in numerous national media, including USA Today, Newsweek, and "The Steve Harvey Show with Dr. Drew," and dozens of nationally syndicated radio shows. He was an invited guest by the U.S. President to the 2016 State of the Union Address. This story chronicles Tim's grueling journey into addiction, loss, and recovery. Sit with Tim in his prison cell. Walk with him as loved ones are torn from his reach. Rejoice with him as lives are miraculously recovered.

Download or read book Why Don t They Just Quit written by Joe Herzanek and published by Changing Lives Foundation. This book was released on 2015-01-01 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This award-winning book covers critical topics: - Why a person does not have to hit rock-bottom - When helping is actually hurting - How to deal with a relapse - Why effective intervention doesn't have to be a surprise attackAchieve the peace of mind that comes from knowing what works, what doesn't and why. Why Don't They JUST QUIT? provides the answers you so desperately seek.

Download or read book Strung Out written by Erin Khar and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2020-02-25 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This is a story she needed to tell; and the rest of the country needs to listen.” — New York Times Book Review “This vital memoir will change how we look at the opioid crisis and how the media talks about it. A deeply moving and emotional read, STRUNG OUT challenges our preconceived ideas of what addiction looks like.” —Stephanie Land, New York Times bestselling author of Maid In this deeply personal and illuminating memoir about her fifteen-year struggle with heroin, Khar sheds profound light on the opioid crisis and gives a voice to the over two million people in America currently battling with this addiction. Growing up in LA, Erin Khar hid behind a picture-perfect childhood filled with excellent grades, a popular group of friends and horseback riding. After first experimenting with her grandmother’s expired painkillers, Khar started using heroin when she was thirteen. The drug allowed her to escape from pressures to be perfect and suppress all the heavy feelings she couldn’t understand. This fiercely honest memoir explores how heroin shaped every aspect of her life for the next fifteen years and details the various lies she told herself, and others, about her drug use. With enormous heart and wisdom, she shows how the shame and stigma surrounding addiction, which fuels denial and deceit, is so often what keeps addicts from getting help. There is no one path to recovery, and for Khar, it was in motherhood that she found the inner strength and self-forgiveness to quit heroin and fight for her life. Strung Out is a life-affirming story of resilience while also a gripping investigation into the psychology of addiction and why people turn to opioids in the first place.

Download or read book Saving Jake written by D'Anne Burwell and published by Focusup Books. This book was released on 2015-08-27 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: D'Anne Burwell's smart, athletic son-raised in a loving and prosperous home-begins abusing OxyContin as a teenager, and within a year drops out of college, walks out of rehab, and lands homeless on the streets of Boulder. Struggling with fear, guilt, and a desperate need to protect her son, D'Anne grapples with her husband's anger and her daughter's depression as the family disease of addiction impacts them all. She discovers the terrifying links between prescription-drug abuse and skyrocketing heroin use. And she comes to understand that to save her child she must step back and allow him to fight for his own soul. SAVING JAKE gives voice to the devastation shared by the families of addicts, and provides vital hope. Above all, it is a powerful personal story of love and redemption.

Download or read book Drive Or Die written by Mark Tucker and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-06-12 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Step into a chaotic, impoverished and drug-fueled world of fear and desperation -- the 14-day road trip of Mark Tucker, a peaceable heroin addict who finds himself caught up in a murderous crime spree and can't figure out how to escape his homicidal captor. At first, Tucker was lauded by crime-fighters as a hero for helping bring down his captor, James ("Juan") T. Moran, America's eighth most-wanted man, and believed himself eligible for a $100,000 reward. Then, overnight, he was recast as a co-defendant for rendering assistance in a double homicide. He served five years and paid a fine of $70,000. Now he's clean, sober, and eager to show the world that addicts can and do recover. This is his story.

Download or read book The Gift of Second Chances written by Patricia Steele and published by . This book was released on 2019-06 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Patty Steele's painful and heartfelt story is a must read for all affected by alcoholism and addiction. Patty's drinking began socially, and progressed into a powerful addiction gaining control of her adult world. As an addict she drank to medicate the pain of life, desperately trying to numb feelings of shame and defeat. She was responsible for a car accident that took the life of another when she was forty-nine. Patty was sentenced to seven years in prison and eventually achieved recovery with the support of loved ones and friends. Patty hopes by sharing her story, others will gain a deeper understanding and insight into the disease. A portion of the proceeds of her book is being donated to Addiction Treatment Services in Traverse City, Michigan.This book could only have been written by an addict who has walked the walk through the labyrinth of addiction, recovery, relapse, the criminal justice system and the horrors and humiliation of prison. This book itself is a gift to any of us who want some understanding of the inner conflict and outer chaos that marks the life of an alcoholic. For her crime, Patty enters prison as the victim, full of guilt and shame, and emerges as the victor, uniquely equipped to share her experience for the benefit of any of us whose life has been touched by the behavior of an addict.-Michael J. Haley, retired 86th District Court Judge, Traverse City, MichiganIf we have any hope of addressing the epidemic of addiction, we must start thinking about addiction differently. We must demand better policy. We must listen to those grappling with addiction. Shame and stigma only grow if we nourish it. By telling her story, by being a beacon of hope for individuals currently struggling with addiction, and by just living a life of quality and purpose, Patty Steele demonstrates a path to redemption that has little tolerance for the disability shame tends to incubate.-Christopher Hindbaugh, CEO, Addiction Treatment Services, Traverse City, MichiganThis phenomenal book is for those who work in the addiction field and for anyone who is drawn to understand this destructive human epidemic. Patty Steele tells her own story in a clear voice, while giving an unblinking view of the stark realities of our present prison system. This is a substantial contribution to the thorny interface of substance abuse and "corrections." As a working psychologist, I particularly appreciate the candid report and roadmap for effecting healthy change, creating a way forward and showing that positive outcomes are indeed possible. A great read!-Paulita Neal, Ph. D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of California, Member, American Psychological AssociationA sobering example of extraordinary personal transformation even during the darkest of circumstances. A triumphant depiction of how personal action and mindset are key to success even when stripped of basic human rights and freedom.-J.C. Ransom, Traverse City, Michigan, Masters of Social Work, Master Addiction Counselor, Licensed Masters Social Worker

Download or read book Broken written by William Cope Moyers and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2007-08-28 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Candid, shocking, and unforgettable, Broken is a haunting and clear-eyed tale that offers hope for all those wrestling with addiction Unlike some popular memoirs that have fictionalized and romanticized the degradations of drug addiction, Broken is a true-life tale of recovery that stuns and inspires with virtually every page. The eldest son of journalist Bill Moyers, William Cope Moyers relates with unforgettable clarity the story of how a young man with every advantage found himself spiraling into a love affair with crack cocaine that led him to the brink of death-and how a deep spirituality allowed him to conquer his shame, transform his life, and dedicate himself to changing America's politics of addiction. "William Cope Moyers's lucid, measured tale of his own plunge into crack-addled hell [is] frightening in its very realism." -USA Today

Download or read book Alcoholics Anonymous written by Bill W. and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-09-04 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A 75th anniversary e-book version of the most important and practical self-help book ever written, Alcoholics Anonymous. Here is a special deluxe edition of a book that has changed millions of lives and launched the modern recovery movement: Alcoholics Anonymous. This edition not only reproduces the original 1939 text of Alcoholics Anonymous, but as a special bonus features the complete 1941 Saturday Evening Post article “Alcoholics Anonymous” by journalist Jack Alexander, which, at the time, did as much as the book itself to introduce millions of seekers to AA’s program. Alcoholics Anonymous has touched and transformed myriad lives, and finally appears in a volume that honors its posterity and impact.

Download or read book All Eyes On Me written by Kevin Zdrill and published by FriesenPress. This book was released on 2020-08-28 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drugs, gangs, crime, doing time. Vincent Lillie desperately wanted to escape the cycle that was slowly killing him, and the first step was leaving the very gang he had depended on for love and acceptance. The price for escape? A beating so brutal, many don’t survive. The story of Vincent’s life starts with the destruction of his family at the hands of his father’s sexual abuse, worsens with his school’s discriminatory segregation of him, and deteriorates further with every drug he does, every crime he commits, and each of his incarcerations. With his three brothers stuck in the same cycle, Vincent’s lowest point of addiction came to attempted suicide—twice. But fate had other plans for him. At times heartbreaking and at others breathtaking, Vincent’s true story will give you faith in humanity and prove the strength of the human spirit. His slow but steady road to recovery through sheer willpower and determination led him to become a mentor and speaker, motivating kids and adults to become the best version of themselves, and stopping those who are troubled from following in his footsteps. His is an unforgettable story of burning to ashes and rising from them better than ever before—one step at a time. A raw and honest memoir that will give you hope. FOREWORD BY MITCH BOURBONNIERE, Director of Service, Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK), working with Winnipeg’s most vulnerable people who suffer with homelessness, post traumatic stress, addiction, mental health issues, domestic violence, gang involvement, and sexual exploitation.

Download or read book High written by David Sheff and published by HMH Books For Young Readers. This book was released on 2019 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Just Say Know! With drug education for children more important than ever, this nonfiction book draws on the experiences of the NY Times bestselling father/son team of David and Nic Sheff to provide all the information teens and tweens need to know about drugs, alcohol, and addiction. From David Sheff, author of Beautiful Boy (2008), and Nic Sheff, author of Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines (2008), comes the ultimate resource for learning about the realities of drugs and alcohol for middle grade readers. This book tells it as it is, with testimonials from peers who have been there and families who have lived through the addiction of a loved one, along with the cold, hard facts about what drugs and alcohol do to our bodies. From how to navigate peer pressure to outlets for stress to the potential consequences for experimenting, Nic and David Sheff lay out the facts so that middle grade readers can educate themselves.

Download or read book The Heart of Recovery written by Deborah Beddoe and published by Revell. This book was released on 2019-11-05 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is the most medicated country in the world. More than 1.7 million Americans are struggling with addiction to prescription painkillers, fueling the opioid crisis that claims more than 140 lives every day. The trouble isn't just the drugs--it's that we don't know what to do with the people addicted to them. Not as a country, not as the church. Is tough love called for? Or would Christ have us take a different approach to addiction recovery? Drawn from the personal experience of the authors and current research, The Heart of Recovery calls us to set aside judgment and mend recovering addicts and their families with the stuff God uses to heal: compassion and community. It's a call to serve the ones who cannot repay, to forgive 70 times 7, to fling the door wide-open to the prodigal, and to remember the purpose of grace. A supportive community--family, friends, the church, and more--encourages and sustains long-term recovery. Through compassion, we bring hope for healing.

Download or read book My Rehab Is Spelled J E S U S written by Kim Barlow and published by Trilogy Christian Publishing. This book was released on 2019-12-09 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Satan convinced Kim it was okay to snort a line of meth up his nose, instantly addicting him. He thought, It's okay. One line won't hurt, and it hooked him from the very first time. Eventually, it turned into a one-hundred-dollar daily addiction, holding him captive for the next eighteen years. His work and relationships suffered, and his marriage ended in divorce. He was on a spiral of either dying or going to prison for a long time. Using meth that long, doctors mention to him he shouldn't even be alive right now. Read how Kim almost killed a man when a drug deal went bad. God met him in the stillness of his soul one evening that led to him stopping his addiction with no rehab. You will get to share in the amazing miracles that followed. MY REHAB IS SPELLED J-E-S-U-S is a book of hope for those who may have a loved one locked in any addiction.