Review of Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?
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Review of Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?
[Following is a volunteer review of "Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?" by Kyle Oh.]
Why Can't Johnny Just Quit? is an educational and very informative book by Kyle Oh. The author educates the reader by shifting focus from drug addiction treatment to prevention. I love how he debunks different myths and misconceptions of drug addiction that shed some light on the world of drug abuse and addiction. If you live with an addict, the book helps you understand them better. For example, I like the part where the author says that most people are treated for depression as the cause of addiction instead of the underlying causes such as child sexual abuse, negligence, or poor upbringing. This leads them to take drugs as a distraction and end up becoming addicted.
As I read the book, there were points where I felt like I was in a drug addiction class. The author has done his job well to educate the readers, but I felt he was using too much drug-related medical jargon that distracted me from the main message. Additionally, some of the information was so deep that, as a reader, I felt that I needed first to digest it to understand—for instance, his explanation of getting intoxicated and getting high. Getting intoxicated is not the same as getting high. High is an intense euphoria and not a dopey feeling. Getting intoxicated is an altered state of mind. Addiction is not physical dependency, but much more than that —and the list goes on. But I was amazed to learn that there are opiate pain medications that are stronger than heroin and morphine, which are commonly labeled as dangerous.
It's quite interesting that according to the author, what gets you addicted or hooked does not necessarily get me addicted. This demystifies the belief that some drugs are more addictive than others. That certain drugs are not addictive just because they were not addictive to a few individuals. As a beginner on this subject, the book was eye-opening. It is evident that the author is passionate about the topic and has a genuine desire to help those who have fallen into the drug addiction menace. I was also perplexed by how a simple question, 'how does the drug make you feel?' can make such a big difference in the life of someone. You might think you are addicted, but your answer to the question says you are just abusing the drug. That's mind-blowing when you come to think of it. I also loved how the author is unafraid of contradicting other sources that seem credible.
Although the author has used a few real-life scenarios, I still feel he should have done better. The majority of the book felt like reading a medical textbook. But I still read it to equip myself with the knowledge and not because I was hooked. I hence rate the book 3 out of 4 stars because it was professionally edited and informative.
The book was very educational and helpful. I would recommend the book to anyone going through any kind of addiction. Not only drugs. Young readers, mostly in high schools and colleges, should read the copy as it answers many drug-related questions that people in this stage tend to have.
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Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Why Can't Johnny Just Quit? is an educational and very informative book by Kyle Oh. The author educates the reader by shifting focus from drug addiction treatment to prevention. I love how he debunks different myths and misconceptions of drug addiction that shed some light on the world of drug abuse and addiction. If you live with an addict, the book helps you understand them better. For example, I like the part where the author says that most people are treated for depression as the cause of addiction instead of the underlying causes such as child sexual abuse, negligence, or poor upbringing. This leads them to take drugs as a distraction and end up becoming addicted.
As I read the book, there were points where I felt like I was in a drug addiction class. The author has done his job well to educate the readers, but I felt he was using too much drug-related medical jargon that distracted me from the main message. Additionally, some of the information was so deep that, as a reader, I felt that I needed first to digest it to understand—for instance, his explanation of getting intoxicated and getting high. Getting intoxicated is not the same as getting high. High is an intense euphoria and not a dopey feeling. Getting intoxicated is an altered state of mind. Addiction is not physical dependency, but much more than that —and the list goes on. But I was amazed to learn that there are opiate pain medications that are stronger than heroin and morphine, which are commonly labeled as dangerous.
It's quite interesting that according to the author, what gets you addicted or hooked does not necessarily get me addicted. This demystifies the belief that some drugs are more addictive than others. That certain drugs are not addictive just because they were not addictive to a few individuals. As a beginner on this subject, the book was eye-opening. It is evident that the author is passionate about the topic and has a genuine desire to help those who have fallen into the drug addiction menace. I was also perplexed by how a simple question, 'how does the drug make you feel?' can make such a big difference in the life of someone. You might think you are addicted, but your answer to the question says you are just abusing the drug. That's mind-blowing when you come to think of it. I also loved how the author is unafraid of contradicting other sources that seem credible.
Although the author has used a few real-life scenarios, I still feel he should have done better. The majority of the book felt like reading a medical textbook. But I still read it to equip myself with the knowledge and not because I was hooked. I hence rate the book 3 out of 4 stars because it was professionally edited and informative.
The book was very educational and helpful. I would recommend the book to anyone going through any kind of addiction. Not only drugs. Young readers, mostly in high schools and colleges, should read the copy as it answers many drug-related questions that people in this stage tend to have.
******
Why Can't Johnny Just Quit?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Gardening With Guns by AJ Wootton
