BACK COVER #
Politicians and the media tell us that people who take drugs, including alcohol or nicotine, cannot help themselves. They are supposedly victims of the disease of 'addiction', and they need 'treatment'. The same goes for sex addicts, shopping addicts, food addicts, gambling addicts, or even addicts to abusive relationships.This theory, which grew out of the Temperance movement and was developed and disseminated by the religious cult known as Alcoholics Anonymous, has not been confirmed by any factual research. Numerous scientific studies show that 'addicts' are in control of their behavior.
Contrary to the shrill, mindless propaganda of the 'war on drugs', very few of the people who use alcohol
BLURBS #
"Herin, Dr. Schaler drives a stake into the heart of the 'disease' concept of addictions. Millions of people have stopped smoking, abusing mind-altering drugs, and drinking addictively on their own, without the intervention of counselors or doctors or programs. Dr. Schaler explains persuasively why and how this happens, despite all the genetic and hormonal predispositions."-- Joseph Gerstein, M.D., F.A.C.P., Harvard Medical School
"This is indeed a rare book. Schaler has produced a unique, masterly work which explains addiction from a revelatory perspective. The reader can learn how the controversial area of addiction can be looked at and understood in a new light."
-- Morris Chafetz, M.D., Founding Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
"The wealth of information and fresh insights reflect the writer's career as scholar-teacher-therapist, and especially his many years of research and practical work in the addiction field. The book dispels many myths about addiction and should provide liberating insights to the afflicted."
-- Herbert Fingarette, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of California, Santa Barbara
"Addiction Is a Choice is a powerful antidote against the twin poisons of anti-drug propaganda and drug prohibition."
-- Thomas Szasz, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse
BLURBS #
Dr. Jeffrey Schaler is a psychologist, teacher, and writer active in the addiction field for many years. He has edited Drugs: Should We Legalize, Decriminialize, or Deregulate? and co-edited Smoking: Who Has the Right?