Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177179 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Synopsis
"The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure" contains the incredible three-step holistic programme to total recovery that is the basis of the miraculous success of Passages Treatment Centre. In this revolutionary book, you will learn: the three steps to permanent sobriety; how to create a personalised, holistic treatment programme to completely cure your dependency; the four causes of dependency; how your thoughts, emotions and beliefs are key factors in your recovery; and how to stimulate your body's self-healing potential to be forever free of dependency. "Freedom from dependency starts with understanding that alcohol and drugs are not the problems," says Chris Prentiss, author and cofounder of "Passages". "They are merely the substances you are using to help yourself cope with your real problems, anything from hypoglycaemia or a sluggish thyroid to brain-wave pattern imbalances or deep emotional pain. Once your underlying problems are discovered and cured, your need for drugs and alcohol will disappear - along with your craving." Prentiss should know. His son, Pax, was addicted to heroin, cocaine and alcohol for ten years. They sought help everywhere, but Pax relapsed again and again.

In desperation, they finally created their own holistic, hand-tailored programme that was a complete break from all other programs and that combined several effective therapies. It saved Pax's life. Together, father and son founded Passages to help others find their own freedom. A visionary and an innovator, Chris Prentiss brings new hope to people everywhere who are dependent on drugs and alcohol.

Customer Reviews

Unproven Assumptions
The fundamental theory underlying this book is that alcoholism and addiction are caused by past events in a person's psychological history. Not only is there no evidence to support this theory but such evidence as there is seems to point, rather, to a genetic origin of addictive behaviours. It is likely that such behaviours are prompted by an inherited mood-disorder, which is inappropriately medicated by the substance of addiction. Recent research also indicates that this underlying inherited mood-disorder is probably associated with a deficiency in the neurotransmitter functions of the brain.

Traumatic experiences may well transform this malfunction affecting mood into active addiction - in the sense that they prompt increased self-medication. But they are not, in themselves, the causes of addiction. The whole basis of Prentiss's method of treatment is therefore extremely questionable.

Chris Prentiss was apparently able to help his son, Pax, to become abstinent. This may have been a function of the father-son bond. It does not follow that his 'home-made cure' will work for anyone else. The extravagant claims made in this book for the efficacy of his DIY system of recovery are very hard to believe - and do not appear to be substantiated by any meaningful statistics.

It rather looks as though this 'miracle cure' is, in fact, a quack remedy.

Too much waffle
I have been looking for a good book to give my alcohol dependent (120units a week) ex partner to get into some kind of recovery. Despite what I heard about this Passages rehab place - was not impressed. Far too much of this book - 70 pages, maybe more - devoted to the story of the authors son getting off his addictions. The main useful points were that alcoholism is not a disease (I think some people know this) as the book says - to stigmatise it as such just makes it harder for people to quit (cos they have a negative label - so easier to just drink cos thats what they are - alcoholic). That dependency is usually caused by emotional pain (unless medical reasons such as bodily imbalances) and that's nothing new - and that spiritual beliefs help to fill the loveless void inside - and that there are 4 things that need attention before addiction can be kicked 1) unresolved issues from the past 2) current difficulties that are not being handled well 3) chemical depndency - i.e. the drug itself and any medical issues like low thyroid, hyppoglycaemis, inadequate B1 vitamins - these cause anxiety and get used up fast by in drinking and 4)a conflict between one's beliefs and what is actually happening - i.e. i cant trust people (actually alot of people are trustworthy!), these need to be explored and integrated to a more enhancing and accurate life philosophy. There you have it. An interesting read but not a life changer.

A Very Helpful Read.
10 years down the line as a parent and I find this a very helpful read. Anyone involved in drug addiction,or any other addiction, as a user or parent, or as a professional should read this book. At the very least it will form a significant part of your informed education. The only thing I am left wondering is how to get together so many sympathetic and knowledgeable specialists without the need for very rich patients/parents (in the UK). Never the less, that in itself does not mean that the information and methods given are not very effective. The 'cure' is based on an understanding of the addiction condition. In the meantime I will continue to both look for these individuals, and further improve my education for the sake of myself and my daughter.