People are putting a price on life here.
I have noticed that some posters are upset about the price of being "cured." I am not an addict, but my best friend was, and I would have sold my house out from underneath me if it could have cured him.

I knew that he had a real problem when he was fourteen years old, and knew where he was heading from my experiences in college -- people I knew. He was given an unnecessary tonsillectomy, and the well-meaning surgeon prescribed (Acetaminophen) #4 (with codeine). This was in 1971.

I have taken the same drug, without problems, usually for dental pain. I have never taken it for more than two days.

Well, my best friend was introduced to the same feelings that I get when I do something exceedingly well, only his performance dropped off to near zero. Later, he met a junky nurse, and I knew that it was game-set-match. I intervened and ran her off.

I knew I had no control over his addictions, but I did everything I could do to buy time. He finally went to a detox center and became a sponsor at Narcotics Anonymous. By this time he was married, and my wife learned that they were beginning to use again (she went through detox with him), and I had a decision to make. Something told me that he would not survive the year.

He had learned that narcotics lead to institution, jail, and death. Well, he was arrested for "uttering a forged instrument," which is to say, forging a prescription. Back to detox.

By this time, he was, in my opinion, too old for me to treat him as a child, and I made it clearly known to him that I would be there to intervene only if he asked. I had pulled him out of desperate straights before, but against his (temporary) will.

His junky wife found him dead one Christmas morning, about ten years ago. He had accidentally overdosed. I had an intervention plan set up for the 26th, and missed it by one day.

One of the lines of a poem I wrote to him before his first detox included, "May you find peace in Oaklawn's Gardens, and Sleep the Never-Ending Sleep you Seek. I have seen it all before, but this was my best friend Keith." I hope, somehow, that he did find that peace. He was a gifted person, and my best friend. I frightened him with that poem, and in his last days, he somehow knew what was going to occur. He reported "lucid dreams, where he was with (a friend who had died of drug abuse). I was supportive, and only this one poem was pessimistic.

A copy of that poem is in his casket. It should not be forgotten that people do manage to become addicted to drugs and return to a normal life. These drugs were designed for pain, not getting high. He slipped away one day before I was going to intervene with his recovered addicts alongside me.

If you have an addicted friend, their life is in your hands. Please do not forget that. The price of the regimen in this book is the price of life. Find a way to do whatever it takes, or lose your friend or loved one.I know this post is too long, but it, like and along with the book, will save lives.

OK BOOK, BUT NOT A CURE
I AM AN ADDICT.... AND I UNDERSTAND TRYING TO FIND THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF MY USING DRUGS. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS BOOK WAS A COMMERCIAL FOR PASSAGES (WHEN I CALLED THEY TOLD ME TO COME UP WITH 68,000 DOLLARS). I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD ALL OF THE COUNSELORS AND HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS THEY ADVISE I USE. HOW COULD I AFFORD TO GO FOR 30 DAYS TO A PROGRAM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. WHEN I GOT TO THE CHAPTER OF THE BOOK THAT TOLD ME TO GET ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT DOCTORS, I WAS HEARTBROKEN. BECAUSE OF THE TITLE OF THE BOOK, I HAD SUCH HIGH HOPES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS IT, THIS WAS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP ME GET OVER MY ADDICTION FINALLY. BUT AS EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE TRIED IT FAILED ALSO. I AM GOING TO TRY THE ACCUPUNCTURE AND MY MEDICAL DOCTOR IS WEANING ME OFF OF OXYCONTIN RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT IS MY PLAN. I PRAY AND PRAY AND PRAY THAT IT WORKS. MY FAITH IN GOD IS WHAT WILL PULL ME THROUGH THIS, I KNOW IT. THE ONE THING IN HIS BOOK I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IS THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE.. GOOD OR BAD ALL WORKS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD. EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE, EVEN BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I AM LEARNING A LIFE LESSON. AND THAT IS A GIFT FROM THE LORD.

Great Recovery Story, But Who Can Afford Their Plan?
The story that the son, Pax, wrote about his addiction and recovery was great. It rang brutally true. I was into the book and ready to see how they could translate their $50,000/month Malibu treatment plan to the masses. The answer? They can't. They recommend hiring a western medical doctor, a clinical pyschologist, a massage therapist, a nutrionist, an acupuncturist, a hypnotist, and a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine as the minimum "holistic treatment team". They recommend going to clinical pyschologist at least 3 times/week. During a question/answer part of the book, it was asked "What if I can't afford all of this?" The answer? Ask to be treated for free. Tell them that they'd be part of a "Passages model team".

Okay...

My HMO pays for 10 counseling sessions per year with a social worker. And the copay for that is $40 per visit. Somehow I don't think I'm going to be able to assemble this psychological dream team without a load of cash and a lot of free time.

Oh, and what should you do if your dream team doesn't live in your small town? MOVE to a big city (just for a month).

I'm not a big fan of AA and their dogmatic religiosity, but at least they're free and close by!

not worth it
this book was unimpressive to me. just a waste of money as very little in it is of much use.

Book Review
Great Book! A lot of really good information to help understand addictions, which in turn helps understand how to plot a course to overcome addictions. A lot of resources suggestions included.