Twisted: One Drug Addict's Desperate Struggle for Recovery

Upper-middle-class but maladjusted, Richmond turned to beer and marijuana at age nine after he was molested. He spent the next 15 years dousing his troubles with drugs, including cocaine and heroin. In fast-paced prose, he graphically conveys the nightmare thrills of junkiedom (cocaine is "high octane, power-packed, space shuttle booster fuel") and the agony of detoxification. "Dopefiendsone word per author/pk are consummate liars," he insists, describing how he manipulated doctors, pharmacists, friends and family. Richmond's melodramatic style--with overuse of italics and capital letters--becomes tedious, however, when he offers shallow analysis of his family life. (His mother "had diabetes. And that hurt to watch. And to see. And live with.") After he repeated cycles of rehabilitation and relapse, sinking to robbery and stealing used syringes, Richmond finally acknowledged his sickness and accepted help. He now finds solace in a support group and declares his acceptance of God--part of a typical recovery program. Yet his experience suggests that junkies must hit bottom before they decide to stay straight. Though Richmond wants others to follow his (belated) example, his book is more convincing as a cautionary tale than as a manual for recovery. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.