Edited and with contributions by Lois Badey 'I have a secret. Secrets can be dangerous. They make tell lies. You can lie to others, but mostly, you lie to yourself...' - Janet Drawing from his 35,000-member strong community, one of the country's most successful sobriety coaches, Simon Chapple brings us real, raw, relatable stories from individuals who've found joy in an alcohol-free life. Powerful, healing, resonant and true, the experiences in this unforgettable book will make a real impact on anyone who is exploring their relationship with alcohol, or who needs support, inspiration, or a reason to go sober. Featuring contributions from some of the most well-known personalities in the Sober Space, sharing their own extraordinary journies, some of these stories are shocking, some are moving, some will make you cringe and others will make you laugh out loud; all are inspiring and powerfully motivating. The hope is that readers will see their own lives reflected in these incredible narratives, and find the courage to take a step forward into a new life. With a full commentary from the author alongside each chapter, to provide an easy understanding of the takeaways from each story, the book will also carry QR codes that link directly to Simon's popular YouTube channel to further help you on your journey to sober joy. Why not invest in THE SOBER JOURNAL - a space for your own reflections, marking your own journey to freedom and joy?

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLER AND WINNER OF THE ATTITUDE BOOK AWARD 'I love this man so much. He was, and always will be, my knight in shining Westwood.' DAVINA MCCALL 'This is a story that should never have been told' KATE MOSS 'The perfect beach read' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'If you want to change your life but can't.. I strongly advise you read this book' TRACEY EMIN As one of club culture's most notorious - and best loved - figures, Tony is a complete force of nature. Here he tells the most extraordinary stories of depravity and hedonism, of week-long benders and extreme self-destruction - and of recovery, redemption, friendship and the joy of a good tune. ___________________________________________________________________________ 'Anyone can get a party started, but no one keeps it going like Fat Tony, the energy never dips and what a life he's lived.. He's a tosser but we still love him.' ELTON JOHN & DAVID FURNISH ___________________________________________________________________________ DJ Fat Tony has been described as 'the closest thing that club culture has to a national treasure' and the 'unlikely cult hero of quarantine'. Few people have crammed so many lives into one: when your first line of cocaine is aged 16 with Freddie Mercury, where do you go from there? I Don't Take Requests is Fat Tony's breathtakingly candid and outrageous memoir of a life of extremes. From his childhood on an estate in Battersea where he honed his petty criminality, was abused by an older man and made friends with Boy George, to his teenage years spent parading the Kings Road in his latest (stolen) clobber, working as a receptionist for a prostitute, hanging out with Leigh Bowery and Sue Tilley and creating his drag persona, to his life as DJ to the stars and his spiral into serious drug addiction. Now, he is 16 years sober and, alongside working to help others overcome addiction, DJing for everyone from Elton John to Louis Vuitton and the Beckhams - and running one of lockdown's most popular Instagram accounts with its wickedly funny memes. It is all here in horrifying, glorious, heart-breaking detail. ___________________________________________________________________________ 'Whenever we host a party, Tony is our first port of call. He'll have everyone dancing, guarantee great memories, and the stories he tells... Just don't f*****g ask for any requests!' DAVID & VICTORIA BECKHAM 'There is nobody in London, let alone the world who has lived a more extraordinary life... his journey from villain to real life hero is one of the most beautiful examples of humanity I have ever witnessed. I wouldn't be without this c*nt.' KELLY OSBOURNE 'Hearing Tony's story is brutal and shocking. He is nothing short of a miracle and his willingness to be of service to others seeking sobriety is testament to how far he has come from the days of pulling his own teeth out.' MARC JACOBS

Widely adopted, this state-of-the-art text and clinical resource captures the breadth of current knowledge about substance abuse and its treatment. For each of the major evidence-based treatment approaches, a chapter on basic assumptions and theories is followed by a chapter on clinical applications, including illustrative case material. Expert contributors cover motivational, contingency management, cognitive-behavioral, 12-step, family, and pharmacological approaches. Concluding chapters discuss effective ways to integrate different treatments in a range of clinical settings. New to this edition: reflects significant advances in research and clinical practice restructured to follow the typical sequence of treatment chapter on the biology of substance use disorders chapter on an additional treatment setting: primary care chapter on case management.

It has long been established that addiction or SUD - Substance Use Disorder - ruins lives and leads to illness, destruction of families, and death. Chasing the "high" often brings the user closer to death each time the use is increased even though the person may choose to ignore the risk. Effective treatment is essential to help recovering addicts change their lives and become productive citizens, leading happy lives in perpetual sobriety. Helping them adjust their focus from shame and guilt to improved self-esteem and renewed sense of purpose in life is essential for avoiding prolonged substance abuse. In addition to traditional approaches, the use of creative writing as a treatment modality can help the addicted person obtain and deploy the tools necessary to remain sober. In this way, creative writing can help actualize the whole person. Inviting people with addictions to share their creative writing with the world helps them to connect their experiences, observations, and recommendations to others. This book is a collaborative effort between research, facilitation, and contributions of the creative men at St. Christopher's Inn. Adding to the variety and depth of the creative productions is the incorporation of post-program writing from men who have completed the program at St. Christopher's and have remained connected in this special endeavor. This allows a window into the minds of the longer-term recovering addicts, especially relating to the tools that help them through life's persistent challenges. With this book, we hope to show that writing does help in the treatment of chemical addiction.

With rising rates of morbidity and mortality from substance abuse, addictions and mental health professionals are called upon to integrate innovative treatment modalities that are effective in supporting health and well-being, managing stress, decreasing cravings, supporting abstinence, and addressing the mental health issues that commonly occur with substance use disorders. An approach that blends the best of conventional treatment with complementary therapies and techniques, can bring optimal health and wellness based on the unique needs, preferences, and goals of each person. This book details complementary and integrative health modalities that promote physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual health, and recommends self-care and healthy lifestyle practices for sustainable recovery from substance use disorders. These modalities were chosen based on a body of scientific research supporting their inclusion, and with a focus on the whole person, mind, body and spirit. Practitioner delivered therapies are presented, such as Acupuncture, Healing Touch and Art Therapy. Modalities that are learned in formal treatment and then translated to personal practice after discharge, such as Meditation, Eating for Recovery, and Emotional Freedom Technique are reviewed. Case studies explore these modalities to illustrate applications and integration into conventional treatment. The book concludes a plan for self-care that can bring improved health, quality of life and vitality for long term recovery.

Stories from doctors, nurses, and therapists dealing on a daily basis with the opioid crisis in Appalachia should be heartbreaking. Yet those told here also inspire with practical advice on how to assist those in addiction, from a grass-roots to a policy level. Readers looking for ways to combat the crisis will find suggestions alongside laughter, tears, and sometimes rage. Each author brings the passion of their profession and the personal losses they have experienced from addiction, and posits solutions and harm reduction with positivity, grace, and even humor. Authors representing seven states from northern, Coalfields, and southern Appalachia relate personal encounters with patients or providers who changed them forever. This is a history document, showing how we got here; an evidenced indictment of current policies failing those who need them most; an affirmation that Appalachia solves its own problems; and a collection of suggestions for best practice moving forward.

They're trying. Despite everything. They're really trying. They almost work together, beautifully. Looking at what is inherited and who is responsible, award-winning writer Charlie Josephine's new play Pops follows a father and daughter caught in a vicious cycle of addiction, and the self-inflicted shame around mental health.