Drugfree: A Unique, Positive Approach to Staying Off Alcohol and Other Drugs

Supplementing their previous works on conquering addiction (The Little Black Pill Book, etc.), Smith and Seymour, founder of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic in San Francisco, address millions of addicts who, having succeeded in conquering their habits, still suffer relapses, sometimes years later. The authors contend that there is only remission, not permanent cure, for the disease of addiction; recovered addicts, they assert, need physical and psychological assistance in maintaining long-term freedom from drug dependence. They define the nature and effects of the most commonly abused drugs and describe a variety of relaxation techniques that many recovered addicts find helpful, along with good diet and exercise, in relieving the stress that often accompanies breaking a habit. They advocate life-enhancing, growth-developing activities to help render the use of drugs superfluous and endorse employee assistance programs as well as the many support groups concerned with specific drugs. (August 1)