The Thirteenth Step: Addiction in the Age of Brain Science

Clarifying the cutting-edge science of addiction for both practitioners and general readers, The Thirteenth Step pairs stories of real patients with explanations of key concepts relating to their illness. Heilig paints a vivid, readable portrait of drug seeking, escalation, and other aspects of addiction and suggests science-based treatments that promise to improve troubling relapse rates. The Thirteenth Step offers compassionate, valuable answers to anyone who hopes for a better handle on a confounding disease.

A leading physician scientist explains why, despite major advances in our understanding of addiction, treatment continues to be ineffective--even harmful--and how we can achieve better outcomes.