7 Tools to Beat Addiction

July 26, 2004
In this straightforward self-help guide, psychologist and addiction therapist Peele (The Truth about Addiction and Recovery) argues that, contrary to popular belief, the best way to overcome addiction is not through treatment in rehab centers or in formal groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, but rather through self-efficacy and self-reliance."Successful therapies," he writes,"place the responsibility for changing your addictive behavior on you." Citing statistics from numerous studies, such as one that looked at heroin-addicted American soldiers in the Vietnam War, Peele points out that people quit addictions every day without any professional assistance. In fact, he says, research shows that alcoholics who do not enter treatment programs are more likely to quit abusing alcohol than those who do enter treatment. (Groups such as AA, Peele says, endorse themselves by telling members that there is no recovery without their programs, and so when members believe that they cannot successfully beat their addictions alone, they quickly relapse once they stop attending meetings.) Emphasizing a person's own sense of responsibility as the driving force behind overcoming addiction, Peele's book outlines seven tools that can serve as a foundation for successful recovery--Values, Motivation, Rewards, Resources, Support, a Mature Identity and Higher Goals--and includes exercises to help readers design their own program. The ultimate goal: to replace the"immature gratifications" of addiction with a"fulfilling, meaningful life" that includes a strong support structure. Peele tells readers that they have the power to create their own world of health and responsibility. His message will no doubt anger the countless Americans who have been helped by AA and other treatment programs, but could prove useful to those reluctant to seek outside help for their addictions.

Starred review from June 1, 2004
These two books address the age-old problem of addiction. Peele, the author of such well-known works in the field as The Meaning of Addiction and Love and Addiction, offers a revolutionary concept sure to make a difference in both self-help and formal recovery programs. Peele emphasizes what he calls natural remission, which allows anyone to overcome his or her disruptive habits. He believes that the core element of an individual, not the treatment or program, is the key to success. His philosophy thus differs markedly from that of AA, which traditionally focuses on an individual's powerlessness. Peele offers the addict both help and information, presenting what he calls building blocks for living and allowing the reader to explore the significance of seven tools (values, motivation, rewards, resources, support, maturity, and higher goals) that form the heart of this book. Well written and well researched, this is sure to be an essential text in the addiction field. Highly recommended for public, academic, and specialized libraries in the health profession. In his work, addictions counselor Prin focuses on addiction to compulsive urges. A recovering "secret keeper," he begins the story of his addiction with his deep childhood animosity toward his mother. The book is interspersed with sections that Prin calls meta-views, which offer thought-provoking questions to help readers better understand a secret keeper's motivation and explore this tendency in their own lives. Told in the first person, the text includes both a table of contents and a reading list and endnotes consisting primarily of Scriptures. Mirroring much of the AA philosophy of powerlessness and the need for a higher power, Prin's work reads much like an autobiography, as readers accompany Prin on his journey to manage his secret-keeping tendencies and face his challenges and successes in finding his own spirituality. Given its narrow focus, this work is best suited to libraries that focus on Christian literature or collect broadly in various types of addictions.-Melody Ballard, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.