A well-written mix of memoir and contemporary research into drug addiction. Jenny Valentish explores her own history of substance abuse and addiction, and speaks to a variety of researchers and professionals. She also examines the gendered nature of addiction - how we talk about, and react to, male and female addicts in different ways, for example the prevalence of Borderline Personailty Disorder diagnosis in female patients. The book also talks about treatment and how it differs from country to country - Australia's harm minimisation policies compared to America's War on Drugs. Being based in Australia, Jenny does shine a lot of light on Australia's situation and this book is a must-read for any Australian to get a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding drug addiction.
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