On Pills and Needles: The Relentless Fight to Save My Son from Opioid Addiction

On Pills and Needles: The Relentless Fight to Save My Son from Opioid Addiction

by Rick Van Warner
On Pills and Needles: The Relentless Fight to Save My Son from Opioid Addiction

On Pills and Needles: The Relentless Fight to Save My Son from Opioid Addiction

by Rick Van Warner

Paperback

$16.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
    Choose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by Tuesday, April 2
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

When Rick Van Warner found himself searching abandoned buildings and dangerous streets looking for his missing son, he had no idea that the synthetic, pill-form heroin that had snared his teen was already killing so many. In the years of pain and heartache that followed as he tried to save his son from opioid addiction, Van Warner discovered what the American public is just now becoming aware of: opioids prescribed for even minor pain relief are so addictive that even a few days of use can create dependency.

On Pills and Needles is a memoir that also serves as a wake-up call and crash course in opioid addiction. Through his harrowing personal story, Van Warner exposes the common causes of opioid addiction, effective and ineffective ways it has been treated, and how families can walk alongside loved ones who are dealing with the daily realities of addiction.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780801075353
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 01/17/2018
Pages: 272
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Rick Van Warner is a 30-year veteran of journalism, crisis management, and media relations. Rick was compelled to share his personal story to help other families after recognizing the endemic nature of the current opioid addiction epidemic. A graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Communications, Van Warner began his career as a daily newspaper reporter. Always willing to tackle tough challenges, he also volunteered as a social worker within the New York State youth justice division, where he counseled teens confined to group homes after committing serious crimes. Rick lives in central Florida with his family.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 13

Introduction 15

1 The Vanishing 21

2 Despair aboard the Oxy Express 37

3 Hunches and Heartaches 47

4 Coping with Chaos 61

5 Fighting inside and Out 74

6 Out of Sight, Out of Mind 84

7 The Transporter 91

8 Boomerang of Agony 99

9 Cheating Death 105

10 Rise of the Opioid Kids 108

11 The Abduction 116

12 Pill Mills, Police, and Pain 122

13 Planning the Funeral 132

14 Fleas, Fiends, and Fractures 138

15 Groundhog Day (The Movie) 149

16 Beyond Twelve Steps: The Business of Recovery 160

17 Back to the Brink 171

18 Breakthrough 178

19 Dangerous Demons Return 190

20 Death and Discovery 206

21 Collect Memories, Not Stuff 222

22 The Path to Acceptance 227

23 Battleground Musings 240

24 Twenty-Four and So Much More 249

25 The Flow 257

Notes 265

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews