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Product DescriptionAddiction: What’s Really Going On? contains powerful true-life stories woven together to form a tapestry filled with pain, joy, defeat, and success. The entire book is molded around Deborah McCloskey’s heartfelt desire for her clients to be free of drugs. Her counseling methods both endeared her as “the counselor to get” and locked her into a decade of searching for better ways to help those she felt were stuck on the merry-go-round of a methadone system. This book should be read by teachers, hospitals employees, college students, government officials, and our general adult population whether addicted, sober, or straight. Experts Acclaim for Addiction–What’s Really Going On? “Once I started reading Addiction–What’s Really Going On? I could not put it down! You can tell the passion the author has as you read it. I can also tell how she learned about methadone and the patients as she progressed in her work. ” –Roxanne Baker, CMA, President National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) “Addiction–What’s Really Going On? is gritty and gripping as you enter the lives of those who are like crabs trying to get out of a barrel. Hope comes when you realize that there are people in this world committed to unselfish service who have unconditional love for others. Thank you Deborah and Barbara for showing us your humanity and for what we can aspire to. ” –Anusha Amen-Ra, CNC, CEO, Sacred Space Healing and Retreat Centers International, Inc. “Addiction–What’s Really Going On? is a truthful look into the world of Methadone Treatment with a mix of compassion and humor. It is a great read for those in the recovery field and provides insight for those who do not understand the life of addiction and recovery. ” –Lori Carter-Runyon, Executive Director Hilltop Recovery Services “I recommend this book to audiences in any helping profession, people in recovery, the families of drug addicts, and the users themselves. ” –Bill Urell, MA, CAAP-II, Addictions Therapist Author, The Addiction Recovery Help Guide About the Author Barbara Sinor, PhD is a Psychospiritual Therapist working with individuals dealing with addictions, childhood abuse/incest, PTSD, and adult children of alcoholics. Barbara utilizes a holistic methodology in her counseling encompassing forms of hypnotherapy, regression therapy, Gestalt, Jungian dreamwork, and other transpersonal techniques. Dr. Sinor holds a Doctorate in Psychology; an MA from John F. Kennedy University; and a BA from Pitzer College. For more information, please visit www. DrSinor. com From Loving Healing Press www. LovingHealing. com Psychology : Psychopathology – Addiction
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Addiction–What’s Really Going On?: Inside a Heroin Treatment Program 
Genre: Psychology: Psychopathology-Addiction
Title: ADDICTION What’s Really Going On?
Authors: Deborah McCloskey, CADC Barbara Sinor, PhD
Did you know that today, heroin usage is on the rise? One horrible aspect of this fact is that the rise is most noticeable in teenage girls! The drug is cheaper and of much better quality. No one believes they will become an addict when they first use, denying that they would be one of those people that lose their world, livelihood and inner self. Until reviewing this book, I did not truly understand the agony the addict lives through, and it seems that the Methadone treatment plan works at a minimal level for full recovery.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid. Originally designed to stabilize patients during withdrawal from heroin, by gradually reducing the dose, Methadone is now being widely prescribed for chronic pain. The drug is unpredictable, staying in the body for different lengths of time, so another dose too soon or another medication is mixed with it, can have fatal consequences. Alcohol metabolizes Methadone faster, making overdoses almost inevitable. The irony, there are many more lethal overdoses from methadone than from heroin. Just listen to the news, or take a look on YouTube. Addiction is not selective. Addicts are people from all walks of life, rich or poor, young or old.
I recently met a woman with a couple of children. Having only known her for a short time, I was surprised that she asked me to supervise her children for a couple of hours, she was late for a `doctor appointment’. I took note of how she was acting. She was more than on edge, she was panicking! Later when we talked, she expressed her emotions, having had to leave her children in the care of a virtual stranger and horrified of missing her dose so she would not be sick. Not until I read this book, did I realize that sudden withdrawal from methadone is the worst nightmare imaginable. The addicts say, it is worse than heroin withdrawal. The fact remains, few get down to a low enough dose to completely come off the drug. New directions need to be taken in this painful disease.
As with any type of therapy, the relationship between patient and counselor must be comfortable and respectful, to ensure good results. Deborah McCloskey CADC, earned a valuable reputation from both peers and patients. She had a no nonsense attitude but with large doses of compassion. She pressed on for better answers, she knew there is more that can be done and in her own, overwhelming caseload, strived to make notable changes. Unfortunately she passed away at the young age of 52.
The author, Barbara Sinor PhD, believing in the importance of her friend’s outlook, has taken Deborah’s memoirs and experiences, writing this book for us all to learn from. She has included some humour, I did not realize how engrossed I was in reading, until my own bursts of laughter rung in the room. Barbara’s writing style is powerful, intuitive and compels you to continue reading. She is a Psychospiritual Therapist, using holistic methodology to work with addicts, PTSD, victims of childhood abuse and more.
I believe this book to be an unveiled, truthful peek into the world of addiction. It should be on the agenda for all healthcare students, Doctors, the addict and the family. Especially anyone who thinks they can control the drug, instead of the drug controlling them.
Highly recommended. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews
Rating: 5 / 5
Attending a treatment center that addressed all core issues, rather than specific addictions, I was exposed to some stories from heroin addicts. However, being the treatment center wasn’t specifically addressing heroin addictions I just got a glimpse of the reality that exists in that world. After reading “Addiction: What’s Really Going on? Inside a Heroin Treatment Program” I became more aware of the demons that exist in the lives of the addicts and the resulting behaviors. I commend Barbara Sinor for taking Deborah McCloskey’s dream and manifesting it into a book. This book is for not only those in the recovery programs, but for those that want to know more about the reality of heroin addiction.
Rating: 5 / 5
Deborah McCloskey truly has a passion for working with heroin addicts, and that passion shows through in this book. Each story offers a heart-rending view of an addict and the people who care about them, the addiction and working to the other side, becoming drug free. McCloskey shows that while there is no easy fix, with understanding and care, and the proper medical treatment; all addicts have the means needed to change their life.
The characters are richly drawn, and you will find yourself rooting for them and caring about them. The actual discussion on the use of methodone and the psychology of addiction will prove useful to anyone with a loved one, friend, or family member in the grip of any addiction.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is considering pursuing a career in psychology, social work, or addiction counseling. You will find it invaluable. The book is written to appeal to the every day reader, too. You will learn from it, cry for the addicts, and cheer on the people in the trenchs working with addicts every day.
Rating: 5 / 5
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/09)
In “Addiction: What is Really Going On?,” substance abuse counselor Deborah McCloskey takes us inside a southern California treatment program for heroin addicts. By reading her story, which was fascinating, we learn about the ins and outs of methadone treatment. We also learn about the counselors and addicts. Each person has their own story. If the addicts don’t deal with their issues, their chances of staying clean are nil. If the substance abuse counselors don’t deal with their own personal issues as well, then they have a harder time being effective counselors. It was sad to learn that many of them, who are in recovery themselves, also relapse.
Through her experiences and compassion, Ms. McCloskey learned how to work with addicts. Even though she didn’t always find success with them, she was able to gain their respect and learn how they might try to trick her. I learned a lot from her counseling style. Even though she didn’t let her clients get away with anything, she still was able to gain their respect. Dealing effectively with some of her co-workers and a supervisor also took some skill on her part.
As a graduate of a Master of Science program in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, part of which involved training in Substance Abuse Counseling, I truly wished that I had had a book like this when I was learning about addictions. I think that every student in the program would have benefited. By reading about the clients, their games, their addiction, and what worked, my classmates and I would have benefited hugely. This in turn would have helped the people with whom we were doing our practicum hours.
Heroin addiction is an insidious problem in our society. Ms. McCloskey was successful in finding some alternative ways of dealing with treatment. She didn’t like how the system functioned because it definitely was not working for everyone, and so she made some changes on her own caseload to find out how she could achieve success. I really think that “Addiction: What’s Really Going On? Inside a Heroin Treatment Program” should be read by all people who are involved in some form of substance abuse, whether they are counselors, addicts, or family members of addicts. Sadly because of her passing, Ms. McCloskey will no longer be able to directly help others in this field; however, by assisting with telling her story, Barbara Sinor, PhD, has stepped in as a co-author on this book and in doing so, allows her work to carry on.
Rating: 5 / 5