Dr. Lonny Shavelson offers a powerful, wonderful, and rare insight into the medicalization of death in America. He chronicles several terminally ill individuals and their attempts to die with dignity. I couldn't put the book down. Courbet Anderson, Gerontologist

The author is a physician who followed several cases of dying persons who from the onset of their terminal illnesses expressed a desire to commit suicide towards the end. Dr.Shavelson tracked these cases over 3-4 years and records the medical and emotional roller-coaster the patients went through. The best examination on a personal basis of assisted suicide so far published.

drug rehab right between the eyes that pulls no pun ches and shows us where we need to go next

This skillfully written account of the struggles of five addicts, each of whom the author followed for several years, is not only informative about the promises and perils of rehab, but incredibly moving in its portrayal of courageous attempts to put wrecked lives back together. Set in San Francisco's maze of competing bureaucracies, with forays into homeless encampments and drug lairs as well as welfare hotels and a suburban home, the book makes a powerful argument for a coordinated approach to treatment that meets an addict's long-term psychological and physical as well as short-term behavioral needs. A surprising finding is that people mandated to treatment by drug courts do better than people who "demand" it: the latter are not only stonewalled by hard-pressed administrators, but abandoned to their old environments after "graduating" from whatever program they managed to get into; whereas the drug courts place their clients, track them tenaciously, and give them chance after chance to succeed, often in the face of public opposition.

Lonny Shavelson is also tenacious in following his chosen addicts, several of whom lapse and relapse and are all but lost to the streets. Each of these five is lit from within, at least briefly. One falls through the cracks, but most appear to have been saved, if not through grace, through their own hard work and the faith of a few people in the system...along with the author. This is a riveting read, about people who demand our attention, respect, and empathy. Others in similar circumstances deserve better from the system.

Over 2 million Americans in prison, another million each year arrested on drug charges, economic development tied grimly to building prisons and jails. America made a wrong turn somewhere. It isn't like we don't know where and when. It was when we lost faith in the ability of therapists to treat addicts, became afraid and decided they must go to jail and for longer and longer periods of time. Those who understand addiction know that jail sentences do not cure it, regardless of the length. But, judges and prosecutors and victims and voters don't care. They want to feel safe. So the burden falls on those of us who believe drug treatment is a better alternative. And our confidence is shaken by pretty low success rates. Lonny Shavelson has discovered what most have missed. We cannot clean up the addicts until we clean up the treatment system. The system has built a career on convincing us that if someone does not do well in recovery it is not the fault of the therapy or therapist. "The addict just didn't want it badly enough," they say. Not true, Shavelson argues. His book is a must read for policymakers looking for what Shavelson calls, "the elusive secret to effective rehab." It is coerced treatment, make 'em go and make 'em stay long enough for it to work. But...and this is the key to Shavelson's book...the "secret lies...not only in coercing addicts into programs, but in coercing the programs to do rehab right." No legislator or governor should spend another nickel on treatment until they read this book and put it to work in the treatment system. Treatment folks should read it as a "self help" guide. Hold up the mirror to your face! For all of you, a curious thing will happen as you read this book. You will come to understand that no one just becomes an addict. Sure some make bad choices but for most the bad choices were made for them. Childhood traumas, sexual abuse, genetic predisposition. As you read about the lives of the 5 addicts Shavelson tells us about, you find yourself...caring. If we are going to meet this challenge, that is what we must do. Caring is the elusive answer. We must care enough to do what we need to do. For anyone who is involved in the substance abuse issues at any level, this book is required reading. Wonderful book.