Introduction
In its Public Policy Statement, the American Society of Addiction Medicine
(2011), defines addiction as follows:
Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory
and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic bio-
logical, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an
individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and
other behaviors . . . Addiction is characterized by an inability to consistently
abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition
of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships,
and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction
often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engage-
ment in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability
or premature death.
Following this definition, it appears that Americans are addicted to the auto-
mobile. If we are not medically addicted as a society, enough of us act like
addicts. Regarding the final conditions, “progressive disability and death,”
evidence shows we are already well beyond the first. Certainly, if we do not
seriously “engage in recovery” soon, our behavior will continue to result
in further disability and, without exaggeration, premature death for many.
This book lays out a road to recovery. My hope is that the information
and perspective within this book will spark an epiphany in enough peo-
ple to begin reversing our behavior. However, to do this, we need to start
from scratch: why this book, and why me as the author? But first, why start
from scratch?
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