"Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption" recounts the dark cycle of drug and alcohol dependency of William Cope Moyers. Co-authored with Katherine Ketcham, it is both gut-wrenching and uplifting. It is one of the most grounding experiences I have had since coming to terms with my brother's addiction.
Moyers, as the name would suggest, is the progeny of the famed journalist, Bill Moyers. Cope would grow up in a stable, loving and nurturing home, yet he would drift into the tumult of depency by his own accord. An accomplished journalist himself (when he last rellapsed, he was rising fast in CNN HQ), Moyers brings a kind of personal analysis to this work.
I was touched on so many levels, but this book. Here are a few of the many pearls of wisdom:
1. Alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases no different than cancer, yet the social stigm they carry is wholly different.
2. It is a disease without a cure, yet there is a well-proven treatment . . . the choice not to use . . . every day for the rest of Life.
3. The treatment does not happen on its own, nor does it happen via sheer will power. It happens from a dynamic approach of counseling, AA meetings, learning to be passionate about telling the truth and development of self esteem.
4. Treatment and recovery happen one day at a time.
Contrary to the title, "Broken" helped to heal me a little bit. I am grateful to those who lived to write it for us.
