Book Review: Alive! By Eileen P. DeClemente

This is a powerful book, and also a very sad one.Eventually Eileen, as every addict does, crashed hard.
I run a Computer Lab, we offer free classes, and weOne last seizure, one last abuse of her position as
offer free internet access. It is based in a largemother and wife, and one last realization that she
homeless shelter, probably the largest shelter in Northhad taken the wrong path.
America, we offer beds to over 1,100 people everyRecovery is not easy, physical dependency creates
night. Who are these people? Well some recentphysical and mental problems. We glibly refer to
surveys show that approximately 1/3 are addicts,'withdrawal symptoms,' they are not just symptoms,
booze, drugs, or gambling. Another 1/3 suffer fromthey are facts, they are a bone crushing reality.
some kind of mental health issue, and the vastIt is estimated that 30% of people living in the US
majority of all of the people involved have some kindeither are addicts, or know an addict. Alive! should be
of anti social tendencies.on every high schools reading curriculum, it reveals
I was intrigued by Eileen DeClemente's book, it hitthe story from the inside out.
close to home. Yesterday, I had a client go intoEileen was one of the lucky ones, at age 34 she
seizure in the lab, while it is not an everydaywoke up, but years of addiction have taken their toll.
occurrence, it is not something that is rare. The firstShe is now 55 and diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and
time I witnessed a seizure I was horrified. The brainshe freely admits that it is likely a result of her
short circuits, the victim literally freezes, crashes toaddictions.
the floor, and often twitches and convulses. It is notThis book is written from the heart, and includes
a pretty sight.letters from Eileen's two daughters and her
In Alive! A Courageous Story Of Addiction, Truepharmacist as well as facts about addiction and
Love, and Forgiveness Eileen DeClemente tells her liferecovery - for addicts and their families. Topics
story of addiction and recovery. It is not a prettyinclude: growing up in a dysfunctional home; coping
story. Eileen started with booze at the tender age ofmechanisms; making better choices; relationships,
11, as an adult she added prescription drugs, andfriendship, significant others and family dynamics;
street drugs. At one point her daily intake was in theparenting, healing, forgiving and loving unconditionally;
region of 90 pills, a bottle vodka, and a couple ofseeking help and not being afraid.
cases of beer.This is a book that I plan on recommending to my
The problem is, the more you do, the harder it is toco-workers, and a book that I recommend everyone
get the high, and Eileen was the expert. The highsshould read. You can get your own copy from
became less and less, in fact the highs went away,Amazon, and you can also get more information
she needed to "use" just to maintain.from Eileen's web site.