Addiction And Recovery: What Everyone Should Know

By Dr. Agyenim Akuamoah-Boateng "Dr. Boat"
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Addiction is a terrible disease and affects families, loved ones, friends and to some extent, everyone in the community. Addiction and Recovery: What Everyone Should Know explains the basic understanding of addiction or drug and alcohol dependency and recovery process: myths about addiction and recovery; recovery process and expectations; recovery and relapse prevention strategies; and a road map for recovery. This book is written not necessarily for individuals dealing with mental health and substance use disorders, but for millions of people who are eager to understand this progressive disease of addiction. It is important to know how to intervene, what and when to say anything to ensure effective communication to help motivate and support individuals struggling with substance use disorders to quit, without the consequences of making them angry and trigger cravings and usage.

It is my hope that this book will also help Behavioral Health Clinicians (BHC), especially new graduates and those with no history of alcohol and drug abuse and are intimidated and made infective in their substance abuse professional counseling practices by utterances from addicts, such as, “How can you talk to me about drug abuse when you have never tried any illicit drugs?” or “I will only listen to a person who has been there and done the drugs I’m using.” As the adage goes, “you can’t do right with a do wrong mind.” It is, therefore, incumbent upon every citizen to learn and acquire some basic knowledge about addiction and recovery, as well as develop some basic communication skills to help communicate effectively with individuals and loved ones struggling with substance (alcohol and drugs) use disorders.

About the Author

Throughout his educational, psychosocial, and spiritual journey, Agyenim A-Boateng has earned two doctorate degrees; General Medical Doctor and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. in Human Services) with a concentration in Disaster, Crisis and Intervention, from two continents, Europe and United States of America, respectively; and a master’s degree in clinical mental health and substance abuse counseling in United States of America.

He is the sole proprietor and program director of Generations Health Services, LLC, an intensive outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment program and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), Ex-Certified Forensic Screener, and a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). He has been in the mental health and substance abuse field since 1998 and worked as a private and independent licensed clinical practitioner since 2001, about 18 years. Always believing that a higher purpose and a higher degree will enable him to assume a higher position in any health service organization, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), or Behavioral Health organization, providing mental health and substance abuse services to individuals with trauma-related mental health and substance use disorders, as well as individuals with triple diagnoses of medical, mental health and substance use disorders, Dr. A-Boateng, a.k.a. “Dr. Boat” strives to effect positive social changes.

Published: 2020
Page Count: 82

Customer Reviews

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Mary Boateng
Addiction and Recovery

This book showcases all the things that I needed when our family was dealing with an addiction member in our family. It is a fact that “Addiction is a Family Disease” because it affected the whole family.
I As society continues to stigmatize addiction, it was such a delight to read about the moral issue on “Myths about Addiction and Recovery” addiction is a disease!!!
My family hardly listened to anything that that family member with the addiction said, we were all angry and I wish I could have read this book during this period.
On pg 45, the Author stated, “it is therefore important to use attentive listening to really understand what is going on with the addict”.
I love the way Author of this book listed out the stages of Readiness to Change which everyone can understand.
I truly believe that more education is very important for all family members and that there is hope for every addict and this book is needed in every household.

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Sylvia Grooms
A Must Have

I have been in the field of Chemical Addictions for 31 years plus and I wish I had this book back when I first started my career. I could identify with chapter 3 Who Is Qualified to Counsel or Talk to Addicts about addiction, because being new in the field and not a recovering addict, was a challenge for me. I was always questioned by addicts and just as Dr. Boat says in the chapter, I was intimidated.

My response would always be, "well if you had cancer and I was your doctor, would I have to have cancer to treat you, and of course the answer was always no. What helped me the most and still does to this day is listening and letting my clients know that I care about them, and want them to have a better life drug and alcohol free. Dr. Boat, thank you for this great book. I have so much I want to say, but realize there is not enough space to write it on this review. I pray that you will get this book in every college and university and that it will be a standard in the Human Services curriculum, whether it be social work, psychology, mental health, sociology, criminal justice, etc. Thank you for this short but impactful read. I don't care how long one has been in the field of addictions, there is always more to learn. Thank you for simplifying chapter 4 Neurobiology of Addiction, because it has been difficult for me to explain addiction as a brain disease when talking to clients, but after your explanation and analogy, not anymore. I feel empowered and comfortable talking about addiction as a brain disease. Your analogy of the horse and Jockey or rider was awesome. This book will benefit everyone who reads it. All I can say is get your copy immediately.