The New York Times Book Review - Mick Sussman
…Sheff is a skilled journalist on an urgent mission. He prevailed over the anger and hopelessness he felt at his son's affliction by calling upon great reserves of love and discipline to investigate what might help—first as a father and then, in this book, as a reporter and an advocate. His forbearance and clearheadedness could serve as an example for America as it confronts its drug problem. He has performed a vital service by compiling sensible advice on a subject for which sensible advice is in short supply.
From the Publisher
"Clean will change not only how you look at drug abuse, but also what you think should be done about it. This book is essential reading about one of our most important social problems." — Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation and Reefer Madness "In Beautiful Boy, David Sheff gave voice to the silent — the millions of addicts and their families. Now in Clean, he offers them a path toward healing. Our nation is sinking into an epidemic. This book offers realistic hope for recovery from addiction for those who suffer the disease." — Drew Pinsky, M.D., host of Dr. Drew "How do we prevent kids from using drugs, and how do we effectively treat addiction? Clean cuts through the technical jargon and marketing nonsense to summarize our best knowledge on these topics. The case studies illuminate the challenging process of treatment and the remarkable changes that occur with recovery. Clean is a major contribution to our understanding of this disease and how to fight it." — Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D., professor and associate director, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles "Clean is an important exposé of a failed system; by replacing it, we will save countless lives, help people get clean and stay clean, and help the U.S. end its catastrophic war on drugs." — Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman, Virgin Group, and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy "David Sheff is one of our strongest and most compassionate voices on the profound costs of addiction to the family and to society. Clean should be read by anyone affected by the number-one public health issue in America, which means it should be ready by everybody." — Christopher Kennedy Lawford, author of Recover to Live and Symptoms of Withdrawal "David Sheff has written the most important book about addiction in a decade. Clean is a blueprint for thinking clearly — and empathetically — about America's costliest and most misunderstood public health crisis." — Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of America Anonymous "Indisputably important." — Library Journal "Gripping and vibrant." — Publishers Weekly "Intelligent and thought-provoking views into the complexities of addiction and recovery." — Kirkus Reviews “Providing a wealth of information and practical advice, Clean is the best book on drug abuse and addiction to appear in years… Clean busts a mountain of myths… An extraordinarily valuable book.” – Glenn C. Altschuler, Cornell University, and Patrick M. Burns, Cornell University, reviewing for The Huffington Post —
Library Journal
Sheff triumphed with Beautiful Boy, a No. 1 New York Times best seller and Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers award winner that probed his son Nic's drug addiction. Here he addresses not just the addicted but family, friends, educators, and policymakers to suggest a new way of confronting both drug addiction and prevention, drawing on up-to-date research and his own experiences. The premise? Science, not shame, crossed fingers, or prayer, will make the difference. With a ten-city tour; indisputably important.
Kirkus Reviews
An enterprising treatise on drug abuse and addiction intervention. During the time when Sheff chronicled his son's "hellish" heroin and methamphetamine addiction (Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction, 2008), his desperate attempts to gain a compassionate understanding of the nature of drug dependency educated him thoroughly. This follow-up to that research defines the roots of addiction with clean, accessible language, examining the classic patterns of abuse from the first hit to full-blown dependence and from denial ("anosognosia") to treatment and recovery. Sheff offers new, sustainable solutions to a problem that has reached epidemic levels in this country (nearly 1 in 10 Americans has a drug problem). Among the many precepts the author lists is a belief that the drugs themselves are a "symptom" and not the sole cause of an addiction. He addresses the sciences of drug dependency, risk factors, the broken addiction-treatment system in place today and a family's crucial role in prevention. In terms of recovery, Sheff compares drug (methadone) versus drug-free (AA) routes toward achieving sobriety and eliminating relapses. Particularly fascinating is the author's profile of a Chilean doctor's observational research on the relentless behavioral patterns of fruit flies and mice exposed to alcohol mist, which demonstrates the seductive and ultimately irresistible nature of drugs like alcohol and cocaine. Sheff veers away from labeling addiction as a lost cause and rather offers new models, strategies and alternative therapies for abuse intervention and promising reform. Intelligent and thought-provoking views into the complexities of addiction and recovery.
