This book is a very worthwhile read for any clinician working in the substance misuse field. It reads as a genuine and authentic account of the clinical insights gained from working in an National Health Service (NHS) addiction clinic over many decades. This is not a treatment manual nor a “how to” book but a “why?” and “what does it mean?” book. The informed and insightful reflection on the realities of addiction and recovery is a delight to read.
The book is the product of a long working relationship between the psychiatrist Raj Rathod and the Jungian analyst author Mary Addenbrooke. It is well‐structured, with a brief introductory section that sets out useful background information to help orientate a wide variety of readers. The appendices will be of interest to those approaching the book from a non‐professional background. The bulk of the book is divided into four sections, each using real case descriptions (“narratives”) to illustrate the processes, experience and meaning of addiction, and recovery from addiction. The sections cover the stages of active addiction, the initiation of change, experiences of life in early recovery and a later follow‐up section. The narratives make both inspiring and at times profoundly depressing and harrowing reading. Each section finishes with an explanation of the processes at play in the narratives, including reference to Jungian theory.
Whilst there is some repetition in the book, overall I found it was well‐balanced, (i.e. with interesting detail but not too long!). I would recommend it for a lay person who wants to understand what addiction can mean to a person's life, but also as a useful read to anyone in the field, as a reminder of why we do what we do.
The clinic that the book describes has a slightly timeless feel to it. By this, I mean that the clinic and its practice as described by this author feels to be apart from the UK world of targets and treatment outcome profiles and unaffected by the maelstrom of politicisation of recovery. While I may have some criticism of the described approach to prescribing, it is interesting to read a description of an NHS facility that seems to have carried on providing psychologically oriented treatment while many around it were unable to, and to which many are returning. The depth and intensity of the therapeutic relationships described in this book are notable. I am sure there must have been many patients who passed through this clinic with a more superficial engagement than those who are used as case studies in the book, but I think there are lessons for many services today to make sure that staff are sufficiently skilled and take the time to understand the processes both driving recovery and blocking it.
The book makes many references to close working with AA and the 12‐step movement clearly plays an important role in the recovery of many individuals described in the book. This way of working will now look more and more familiar across the country as treatment services and self‐help/peer‐led organisations work hand‐in‐hand to promote recovery.
