Summary Of Hooked By Dr. Lonny Shavelson

The book “Hooked” by Dr Lonny Shavelson is a fascinating read regarding the rehabilitation of 5 individuals (Mike, Darlene, Crystal, Darrell, and Glenda) dealing with heroin, meth, crack, and alcohol abuse. In the memoir, Dr Shavelson follows these 5 participants through their everyday dealings with the network of recovery facilities in San Francisco during the “open-door” policy implemented in the 1990’s, allowing addicts to seek treatment if they wanted. From what I gather, he noticed the chaotic nature of these participants replicated and correlated the with chaotic nature of the rehabilitation system in San Francisco during that time. In the following paragraphs, I will attempt to explain the issues related to alcohol and substance abuse
However, what really happened was that the initiation of intake centers that would be able to work with addicts on daily basis (in a group setting etc) until they could send them to an actual long term rehab, which still led to the problem, as Dr. Shavelson says, of "windows" of opportunity for treatment. Dr. Shavelson posits that when an addict is ready to sober up, there is often a preliminary event or window, and with the way addiction works according to the author, if they are delayed because there isn't any space for them after all their purposed efforts to get clean, some centers require potential clients to call daily “remind” not only themselves, but the clinic that they are still waiting for a bed. This process required multiple intake interviews, and for a census of people suffering from addiction who perhaps may not have access to transportation, or may be mentally ill and not on medication, who by definition are struggling with addiction) there is a likely chance that the aforementioned “window” of opportunity to get them into treatment will pass and they risk the chance of going back to using/continue using and give up on treatment altogether. Upon reading the book, one can say that the program was set up to try to get around this but it really was not equipped to do this realistically at the time. They had every intention I feel to encourage treatment, and they were willing to fund it and idealistic about it, but the reality was that there simply was not enough space available for everyone who need it the most. In my humble opinion, it was better than nothing since they did have counselors and daily group sessions organized to check in with the individuals to help them and to eventually match them with a