Maté outlines the neurobiology and physiology that inform these stories, from birth to struggling adulthood. The book begins with stories of patients who have spent their lives addicted to heroin, cocaine, and crystal methamphetamine. Addiction “arises near our emotional core,” and Maté holds up a stark mirror, challenging many “comfortable pew” perspectives. He discovers his own addictive tendencies by defining addiction as a continuum that extends from the disheveled street person using injectable drugs-whom we might avoid on street corners-to the well-dressed, successful workaholic, like a physician, who is addicted to recognition, fame, and self-promotion. He “learned much” about himself from this authorship. Gabor Maté works with heavily addicted patients in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. WEAKNESSES Continual shifting from sedating physiologic discussions to riveting clinical scenariosĪUDIENCE Physicians, addiction workers, and politicians STRENGTHS Personal and patient stories interwoven with the neurophysiologic, philosophic, and sociopolitical edges of addiction
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