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Drug abuse is a problem that affects one in eight Americans, and it is only getting worse. Recent years have seen alarming increases in death rates from suicide and overdose—“deaths of despair,” as they are called by Morgan in her unflinching account of the painful, chaotic consequences of drug addiction. Seeking to help parents understand the “hideous metamorphosis” that occurs when their children become consumed by drug abuse, Morgan describes the devastating toll drugs took on her own family. Coming from a family history of addiction and a broken home, all three of Morgan’s children faced different consequences of addiction: problems at school, stints in rehab, relapses, jail time, homelessness, and life-threatening illness. Beginning with an overview of addiction and codependency, the book moves quickly to telling the stories of each child—David, Daniel, and Sarah—as well as describing Morgan’s efforts to cope.
There is a saying in the recovery community that untreated addiction leads to jails, institutions, or death. This book illustrates that prediction. Yet more than an account of the unmanageability of addiction, Morgan’s narrative demonstrates that addiction is a family disease. She was caught in the middle, trying to help her children while also not enabling their addiction. Morgan writes with clarity and honesty, and while it is obvious that she loves her children deeply, the writing also demonstrates the detachment necessary when one has an addicted loved one. David’s story is particularly affecting, told through his letters from prison that graphically show the daily struggle for survival. Despite all the suffering documented here, Morgan ends with a hope that more effective treatments will be found someday. Until then, stories must be told to raise awareness and promote empathy, and this poignant account accomplishes those goals admirably.