4 out of 4 stars
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Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?, by Kyle Oh, M.D., is a comprehensive volume which tackles the oft misunderstood topics of chemical dependency and addiction. Written by a medical doctor who has specialized in pain management and addictions for several decades, this book addresses opiate, narcotic, and alcohol addiction with honestly, experience, and compassion.
Dr. Oh eloquently makes the case for the disease model of addiction, as well as counters the belief that anyone can become addicted to any drug. Using statistics, case studies, and years of personal experience as a pain and addiction specialist, the author "proves," in a sense, that addiction is in fact a genetically inherited predisposition. He dedicates an entire chapter to discrediting common myths regarding addiction, including the often confused "abuse is addiction," "some drugs are so addictive that you are hooked the first time you try," "a high is anything that alters your mind," and more.
Each of the common street drugs are addressed in length, including entire chapters dedicated to Alcoholism, Opiates, and Marijauna, as well as a number of prescription-strength drugs. Most importantly, Dr. Oh takes great care to discuss prevention (in chapter thirteen) through education of teens, pain patients, and those who are genetically predisposed to addictions.
This book is primarily written to medical professionals, patients who suffer with chronic pain, people who have become ensnared by addictions and the family and friends who love them. I feel like Dr. Oh is deeply sincere in his desire to help people live, not just free of pain, but free of chemical addictions through education, accountability, and empathy. Other topics addressed in this book include the importance of healing emotional trauma, why people often relapse in their addictions, and the single most important question to ask a patient who has taken, or is currently taking, any kind of pain medication or drug. Dr. Oh concludes his book with twenty case studies.
I give Why Can't Johnny Just Quit? four out of four stars because I feel like this book is an important read for anyone in a professional, public role: doctors, counselors, clergy, etc.
The format and structure of the book has a professional quality to it and I did not notice any grammatical or spelling errors. What I liked least regarding the editing of the book is that the author often repeats himself. In fact, in numerous chapters, entire sentences and paragraphs are repeated. The author's voice would feel much more authoritative, professional, and concise if the copyeditor had picked up on and omitted the redundancy.
Overall, I recommend this book and applaud the author on a job well done. Knowledge is power, and the message of Why Can't Johnny Just Quit? needs to be heard loud and clear.
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Why can't Johnny Just Quit?
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