Addiction by Prescription

By Joan E Gadsby

Book Overview

In 1966, Joan Gadsby's four-year-old son died of a brain tumour. In response, her trusted family physician prescribed a 'chemical cocktail' of tranquilisers, sleeping pills and anti-depressants -- an act that initiated Gadsby's slow descent into an abyss of unrecognised addiction. Gadsby has emerged from her addiction to become a tireless advocate for systematic change and accountability in the area of prescribed sedative/hypnotic drugs. She has interviewed thousands -- from consumers to doctors to pharmaceutical representatives and government officials as she conducted extensive international research -- in her quest to expose the shocking truth of the depth and breadth of addiction by prescription which affects hundreds of thousands of men and women worldwide.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1552633349
• ISBN13: 9781552633342
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Key Porter Books Ltd
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent tool

Although the author was addicted to benzodiazepines, the book does address other drug dependencies as well. Because of the serious consequences associated with benzo addiction, this book should be among the first books you buy when ready to address the issue. The author, Joan Gadsby, is intelligent, articulate and compassionate. Because she personally fought the benzo-addiction battle, she is never judgmental or condescending. (This is why I am loathe to buy addiction books by "experts" who have not experienced the problem themselves.) I would recommend this book without reservation to anyone who wants the advice of a real expert on what steps to take in the conservative use of benzos or in quitting altogether.

This book has helped our family

This book had a profound affect on a loved one going through withdrawl, and a severe life crisis after 20 years of Benzo addiction. Over twenty years, regular physician prescribed this drug even the doctor didn't realize how severe the addition had become. We found Joan's book an accurate description of the severe life crisis that can happen after long term prescription to this class of medications. This book has helped our family and changed the course of our life. The book includes helpful information that can assist professionals - Doctors, lawyers in helping their clients who suffer from benzo addiction. This book has helped several members in our family understand the events that caused a loved one to "crash" to the lowest point in their life. Thank you Joan for writing this book and sharing your own crisis with us.

Very Emotional!

In 1966, Joan Gadsby's four-year-old son died of a brain tumour and her trusted family doctor prescribed her a "chemical cocktail" of tranquillizers, sleeping pills and anti-depressants. Each time she visits her doctor, he gives her new prescriptions or tells her to increase her daily doseage. Soon, she sees her marriage slowly falling apart after she catches her husband with another woman. Again, her doctor adds on another prescription and sends her & her husband to a psychiatrist. Soon enough, Joan is addicted to benzodiazepines. As a result of the drugs, she was arrested, sedated, jailed and was even told that she had a psychiatric disorder. In 1990, after an unintentional overdose that almost killed her, Joan had enough. Over a two year period, Joan slowly stopped taking the pills and survived to tell her story. This is a real eye opener for anyone who is currently on anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications. It's 2003 and I have yet to hear from a doctor that the pills they prescribe to me are addicting. I had to find out on my own.. just like Joan.