Skip to content
Home/ Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction
Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction

Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction

by Szalavitz, Maia
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9781250116444 Picador USA

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

More people than ever before see themselves as addicted to, or recovering from, addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs, prescription meds, sex, gambling, porn, or the internet. But despite the unprecedented attention, our understanding of addiction is trapped in unfounded 20th century ideas, addiction as a crime or as brain disease, and in equally outdated treatment.

Challenging both the idea of the addict's "broken brain" and the notion of a simple "addictive personality," Unbroken Brain offers a radical and groundbreaking new perspective, arguing that addictions are learning disorders and shows how seeing the condition this way can untangle our current debates over treatment, prevention and policy. Like autistic traits, addictive behaviors fall on a spectrum -- and they can be a normal response to an extreme situation. By illustrating what addiction is, and is not, the book illustrates how timing, history, family, peers, culture and chemicals come together to create both illness and recovery- and why there is no "addictive personality" or single treatment that works for all.

Combining Maia Szalavitz's personal story with a distillation of more than 25 years of science and research, Unbroken Brain provides a paradigm-shifting approach to thinking about addiction.

About the author

Product details

BrandPicador USA
Pub dateMay 9, 2017
ISBN-101250116449
ISBN-139781250116444
Pages352
LanguageEnglish
Dimensions9.2 × 6.1 × 0.9 in
Weight1 lb
Last updated 2026-03-19 01:43
$15.55 $22.00 29% off
You save $6.45 · list price $22.00
In stock — ships in 24 hours with free tracking
Delivery by Monday, September 14, 2026
Qty
Sign in to Add to Saved list
Free delivery on orders over $35.
15-day returns. Any reason.
Secure checkout. We never store card details.

Readers who bought this also bought

More from Substance Abuse & Addictions - General
See all
Facing Love Addiction: Giving Yourself the Power to Change the Way You Love
Mellody, Pia
$12.08
Stop Me Because I Can't Stop Myself: Taking Control of Impulsive Behavior
Grant, Jon
$19.52
Drug Use, Smoking and Drinking Among Young Teenagers in 1999 (2000)
Na, Na
$92.69
Beating the Dragon: The Recovery from Dependent Drug Use
MacIntosh, James
$58.51
Foundations of Addictions Counseling
Capuzzi, David
$153.91
Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People with Physical and Cognitive Disabilities (Revised)
<b>NOTE: NO FURTHER DISCOUNT FOR THIS PRINT PRODUCT- OVERSTOCK SALE - Significantly reduced list price </b> <p/> This TIP, <i>Substance Use Disorder Treatment for People With Physical and Cognitive Disabilities</i>, is intended to enhance treatment providers' knowledge concerning people who have a physical or cognitive disability in addition to their substance use disorder. Treatment programs for substance use disorders already see many individuals with coexisting disabilities, but many providers fail to accommodate these individuals either because they are unaware of the disability or how accommodations can improve treatment outcomes (even though such accommodations are legally mandated). The first chapter defines and explains the issues involved in treating people with coexisting disabilities. Chapter 2 discusses how to screen for coexisting disabilities and how to adapt substance use disorder screenings for clients who have a disability. Chapter 3 discusses treatment planning and counseling&#x3b; it also describes how treatment can be modified to meet the particular needs of people with coexisting disabilities. Forming linkages with other service providers is the topic of Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 presents material for program administrators. In Appendix B, there is a comprehensive list of resources. Appendix C discusses the proper language to use when referring to people with disabilities. <i>Alcohol and Drug Programs and the Americans With Disabilities Act</i>, a pamphlet from the Pacific Research and Training Alliance, is reproduced in Appendix D.
$16.76