Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption

What happens inside drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and how rehab works are a mystery to those outside the industry – and sometimes even to those inside it.

Anne M. Fletcher is a trusted New York Times bestselling health and medical writer who visited 15 addiction treatment centers—from outpatient programs for the indigent to famous celebrity rehabs; from the sites of renowned Twelve-Step centers to several unconventional programs—to find out what really happens. What she reveals ranges from inspirational to irresponsible, and, in some cases, potentially dangerous.

Real Stories: As always with her books, Fletcher gets the inside story by turning to real people who “have been there,” interviewing more than 100 individuals whose compelling stories illustrate serious issues facing people in rehab and endemic in the rehab industry today.

Connected Writer and Researcher who has earned the respect (and cooperation) of experts throughout the fields she’s taken on. Inside Rehab is no exception—Fletcher has interviewed more than 100 professionals working in the field, including a mix of rehab staffers and administrators as well as leading academics.

Rehab is constantly covered in the media, as celebrities battle their drug and alcohol issues in the spotlight and reality TV puts recovery in prime time. Addiction is no longer only a personal struggle—it’s a pop culture phenomenon.

Myth Busting: Fletcher exposes twelve supposed facts for the falsehoods they are, including “rehab is necessary for most people to recover from addictions;” “highly trained professionals provide most of the treatment in addiction programs;” and “drugs should not be used to treat a drug addict.” Fletcher’s most important finding is the alarming discrepancy between the treatments being employed at many rehab centers and the treatments recommended by leading experts and supported by scientific research.

Guidance and Practical Solutions: Inside Rehab also highlights what is working, spotlights state-of-the-art programs and practices, and offers advice and guidance for people seeking quality care and treatment for themselves or those they care about.

Inside Rehab is the first book to give readers a thoughtful, sensitive, and bracingly honest insider’s view of the drug and alcohol rehab industry in America. For people seeking quality care for themselves or a loved one, Inside Rehab is essential reading, offering a wealth of accurate information and wise guidance.

-USA Today

"A memoir of a terrible disease and one man's spiritual journey through it . . . that should be read by those who have friends or family members caught in addiction."

The Indianapolis Star

“Too often there is a disconnect between what people with addiction need and what they get when it comes to treatment. Fletcher’s Inside Rehab offers a compelling review of the many issues that are associated with this chasm. Like her stunning Sober for Good, Inside Rehab is a transformational read that distinguishes myth from reality in the murky and uncertain world of addiction treatment. Despite its revelations about the failings of addiction treatment, Inside Rehab offers important hope to those seeking help because it arms them with the critical information they need to evaluate and choose treatment options. Addiction treatment will be better for Fletcher’s efforts. Make no mistake about it, this isn’t just a useful guide to addiction treatment, Inside Rehab is landmark: it is a brave, bold and paradigm shifting contribution to the literature. Inside Rehab is a must read for anyone with a stake in addiction treatment. Bravo!”            –Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addiction, The Cambridge Health Alliance (A Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate); Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School “Fletcher has written one of the most important clinical books in the past decade. Before spending a dime on rehab, for yourself or a loved one, read this book! Her work may do more to help more people to get and stay sober than millions spent in high dollar rehab facilities. I can only hope that her book encourages these same facilities to begin shaping their practices towards what works, rather than what sells. Fletcher did her homework, writing Inside Rehab, and it shows.–David Ley, Ph.D., author of The Myth of Sex Addiction

"The press kit for Anne M. Fletcher's new book, Sober For Good, states, 'Sometimes one book can make a difference.' After reading the book, I could not agree more strongly." — Jane Brody, Health Columnist, The New York Times

"I think Anne's book should be required reading for counselors and other health care providers who work with recovering people. Her research has revealed and clarified some of the most important issues about how people recover and stay changed." — Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addictions, Harvard Medical School

"This is a wonderful book — well written, full of hope and useful information, and positive at every turn. It is remarkably balanced and constructive in a field that is often doctrinaire and partisan. A must-read for anyone concerned about their own or another's drinking, as well as for health-care professionals." — Barbara S. McCrady, Ph.D., clinical director, Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University

"If you are considering a change in your drinking habits, there is no better place to start than Sober For Good. This is a comprehensive overview — a highly informative, scientifically accurate, and inspiring account of recovery in its many manifestations." — A. Thomas Horvath, past president, American Psychological Association, Addictions Division

"Fletcher presents what works, why, where to find it, and how much it costs. It’s startling, difficult, and important information for those traveling toward recovery, and anyone who wants to help. –Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An extensive, critical overview of modern treatment methods for substance abuse. A valuable guide for individuals seeking help and for their families, as well as for policymakers." –Kirkus “Too often there is a disconnect between what people with addiction need and what they get when it comes to treatment. Fletcher’s Inside Rehab offers a compelling review of the many issues that are associated with this chasm. Like her stunning Sober for Good, Inside Rehab is a transformational read that distinguishes myth from reality in the murky and uncertain world of addiction treatment. Despite its revelations about the failings of addiction treatment, Inside Rehab offers important hope to those seeking help because it arms them with the critical information they need to evaluate and choose treatment options. Addiction treatment will be better for Fletcher’s efforts. Make no mistake about it, this isn’t just a useful guide to addiction treatment, Inside Rehab is landmark: it is a brave, bold and paradigm shifting contribution to the literature. Inside Rehab is a must read for anyone with a stake in addiction treatment. Bravo!”            –Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addiction, The Cambridge Health Alliance (A Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate); Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School “Fletcher has written one of the most important clinical books in the past decade. Before spending a dime on rehab, for yourself or a loved one, read this book! Her work may do more to help more people to get and stay sober than millions spent in high dollar rehab facilities. I can only hope that her book encourages these same facilities to begin shaping their practices towards what works, rather than what sells. Fletcher did her homework, writing Inside Rehab, and it shows.–David Ley, Ph.D., author of The Myth of Sex Addiction

-Jane Brody, The New York Times

“The information and perspective Fletcher provides are indispensable. Anyone in the unfortunately position of needing her advice on how to find the best addiction treatment will find this book invaluable, but the rest of us have a lot to learn from it as well.”

-Salon.com

“Inside Rehab is an invaluable addition to addiction literature. It is fascinating, insightful, and unafraid to upset the establishment. And Anne Fletcher is a measured, detailed, and insightful reporter. Her book is also a great tool for any family struggling with an addicted loved one. Getting sober is hard. Staying sober is hard. Having more options to get clean just might mean that more people do so.”

-The New Republic

“Fletcher presents what works, why, where to find it, and how much it costs. Its startling, difficult, and important information for those traveling toward recovery, and anyone who wants to help.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fletchers book has much to recommend it as a laypersons guide to the way substance abuse is treated in the United States and how this treatment can be improved." -Health Affairs  

“Fletcher... provides answers to fundamental questions: How much does it cost? How long does it last? What do people actually do there? Inside Rehab is a valuable road map for navigating the multiple pathways and programs dealing with the problem of substance abuse.”

            -Booklist (starred review)

“An extensive, critical overview of modern treatment methods for substance abuse. A valuable guide for individuals seeking help and for their families, as well as for policymakers.” -Kirkus

“With the degree of addiction in this country, cutting across all communities, this book looks to be an important purchase.”

-Library Journal

“Like her stunning Sober for Good, Inside Rehab is a transformational read that distinguishes myth from reality in the murky and uncertain world of addiction treatment. This isnt just a useful guide to addiction treatment, Inside Rehab is landmark: it is a brave, bold and paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature. Inside Rehab is a must read for anyone with a stake in addiction treatment.”

            -Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addiction, The Cambridge Health Alliance (A Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate); Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

“This is an extraordinary book. I know of nothing like it. Objective, informative and extraordinary detailed, this book tells the truth about how addiction treatment measures up to modern science and medicine and how you can find a quality addiction treatment program.”

            -David C. Lewis, MD, Founder, Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

“The stigma, desperation, and fear that accompany addiction are so often exacerbated by our ignorance of where to turn for help, what to expect, and what to ask. No longer. This long overdue resource informs and empowers suffering individuals and families to know what effective treatment should look like, to ask the right questions, and ultimately, to obtain the quality care they deserve.”

-John F. Kelly, Ph.D. President, Society of Addiction Psychology, American Psychological Association; Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Director, ARMS Program, Mass. General Hospital

“What a great book - so needed and timely! If youre asking yourself, ‘What should I do? for yourself or for a loved one struggling with an addiction, you should read this book. Combining personal stories with in-depth research, Anne Fletcher offers you invaluable inside information about the currently available treatment options. As a professional who has long worked in this field, I learned some useful things that I know I will return to.”

            -F. Michler Bishop, Ph.D., CAS, Director, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, The Albert Ellis Institute

“Finally, a book that takes an inside look at  addiction treatment by blending an investigative-reporter feel with research-minded rigor—invaluable for patients, policy makers, service providers and program administrators.  It also offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of treating a person suffering from chronic addiction.  To accomplish this with such empathy toward the predicament faced by patients and treatment providers is a real achievement.”

            -Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School

“[Inside Rehab] is carefully researched, draws upon considerable expert opinion and research data, and communicates with compassion, ideas about how to navigate this unnecessarily complex field.”

-Mark P. McGovern, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Community and Family Medicine, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

“Fletcher has written one of the most important clinical books in the past decade. Before spending a dime on rehab, for yourself or a loved one, read this book! Her work may do more to help people get and stay sober than millions spent in high dollar rehab facilities.”

-David Ley, Ph.D., author of The Myth of Sex Addiction

“This is the definitive guide to effective rehab - not only a cogent and highly informative summary of what good rehab should look like, but also a birds-eye view of what its like to get good and bad treatment. Finally, consumers will have a way to know how best to help themselves or their family members.”

            -Michael V. Pantalon, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine and CEO of the Center for Progressive Recovery

"Eye-opening... Ms. Fletchers book, replete with the experiences of treated addicts, offers myriad suggestions to help patients find addiction treatments with the highest probability of success." -Jane Brody, The New York Times

“The information and perspective Fletcher provides are indispensable. Anyone in the unfortunately position of needing her advice on how to find the best addiction treatment will find this book invaluable, but the rest of us have a lot to learn from it as well.” -Salon.com

Inside Rehab is an invaluable addition to addiction literature. It is fascinating, insightful, and unafraid to upset the establishment. And Anne Fletcher is a measured, detailed, and insightful reporter.  Her book is also a great tool for any family struggling with an addicted loved one. Getting sober is hard. Staying sober is hard. Having more options to get clean just might mean that more people do so. -The New Republic

“Fletcher presents what works, why, where to find it, and how much it costs. Its startling, difficult, and important information for those traveling toward recovery, and anyone who wants to help.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)   “Too often there is a disconnect between what people with addiction need and what they get when it comes to treatment. Fletchers Inside Rehab offers a compelling review of the many issues that are associated with this chasm. Like her stunning Sober for Good, Inside Rehab is a transformational read that distinguishes myth from reality in the murky and uncertain world of addiction treatment. Despite its revelations about the failings of addiction treatment, Inside Rehab offers important hope to those seeking help because it arms them with the critical information they need to evaluate and choose treatment options. Addiction treatment will be better for Fletchers efforts. Make no mistake about it, this isnt just a useful guide to addiction treatment, Inside Rehab is landmark: it is a brave, bold and paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature. Inside Rehab is a must read for anyone with a stake in addiction treatment. Bravo!” -Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addiction, The Cambridge Health Alliance (A Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate); Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School   Inside Rehab is an invaluable addition to addiction literature. It is fascinating, insightful, and unafraid to upset the establishment. And Anne Fletcher is a measured, detailed, and insightful reporter.  Her book is also a great tool for any family struggling with an addicted loved one." -The New Republic

“This is an extraordinary book. I know of nothing like it. Objective, informative and in extraordinary detail, this book tells the truth about how addiction treatment measures up to modern science and medicine and how you can find a quality addiction treatment program. What would addiction treatment look like if it delivered the best proven treatment that we have to offer? This book gives us the answers and tells us how find these programs.” -David C. Lewis, MD, Founder, Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies   “An extensive, critical overview of modern treatment methods for substance abuse. A valuable guide for individuals seeking help and for their families, as well as for policymakers.” -Kirkus   “The stigma, desperation, and fear that accompany addiction are so often exacerbated by our ignorance of where to turn for help, what to expect, and what to ask. No longer. This long overdue resource informs and empowers suffering individuals and families to know what effective treatment should look like, to ask the right questions, and ultimately, to obtain the quality care they deserve.” -John F. Kelly, Ph.D. President, American Psychological Associations Society of Addiction Psychology; Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Director, Addiction Recovery Management Service, Massachusetts General Hospital   “Inside Rehab is a valuable road map for navigating the multiple pathways and programs dealing with the problem of substance abuse.” -Booklist (starred review)   “We finally have a book that takes an inside look at drug addiction treatment by blending an investigative-reporter feel with research-minded rigor. This book is invaluable for patients, policy makers, service providers and program administrators.  It also provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of treating a person suffering from the chronic disorder of alcoholism or drug addiction.  To accomplish this with such empathy toward the predicament faced by patients and treatment providers is a real achievement.” -Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School   “On average, from people all over the world, I receive at least five phone calls or emails weekly from family members or individuals seeking guidance about addiction treatment options. In particular, many of these inquiries involve getting help for co-occurring addiction and mental health problems, and frequently include stories about a negative treatment experience where one or the other of these disorders was not addressed. Fletchers Inside Rehab provides individuals and family members such as these with a guide to making informed and better choices. This book is carefully researched, draws upon considerable expert opinion and research data, and communicates, with compassion, ideas about how to navigate this unnecessarily complex field. In essence, Inside Rehab reduces the caveat emptor element in making the best decision possible.” -Mark P. McGovern, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Community and Family Medicine, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth   “Fletcher has written one of the most important clinical books in the past decade. Before spending a dime on rehab, for yourself or a loved one, read this book! Her work may do more to help more people to get and stay sober than millions spent in high dollar rehab facilities. I can only hope that her book encourages these same facilities to begin shaping their practices towards what works, rather than what sells. Fletcher did her homework, writing Inside Rehab, and it shows. -David Ley, Ph.D., author of The Myth of Sex Addiction   “Any person or family struggling with addiction should have this book no farther than their nightstand. This is THE definitive guide to effective rehab.  Many of the stories are heart-wrenching, and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Fletcher leaves virtually no stone unturned - not only do you get a cogent and highly informative summary of what good rehab should look like, you also get a birds-eye view of what its like to get good and bad treatment.  I'm going to make it required reading for everyone who comes to my center. Finally, consumers will have a way to know how best to help themselves or their family members.” -Michael V. Pantalon, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine and CEO of the Center for Progressive Recovery   “With the degree of addiction in this country, cutting across all communities, this book looks to be an important purchase.” -Library Journal  

-Jane Brody, The New York Times

“The information and perspective Fletcher provides are indispensable. Anyone in the unfortunately position of needing her advice on how to find the best addiction treatment will find this book invaluable, but the rest of us have a lot to learn from it as well.”

-Salon.com

“Inside Rehab is an invaluable addition to addiction literature. It is fascinating, insightful, and unafraid to upset the establishment. And Anne Fletcher is a measured, detailed, and insightful reporter. Her book is also a great tool for any family struggling with an addicted loved one. Getting sober is hard. Staying sober is hard. Having more options to get clean just might mean that more people do so.”

-The New Republic

“Fletcher presents what works, why, where to find it, and how much it costs. Its startling, difficult, and important information for those traveling toward recovery, and anyone who wants to help.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fletcher... provides answers to fundamental questions: How much does it cost?

How long does it last? What do people actually do there? Inside Rehab is a valuable road map for navigating the multiple pathways and programs dealing with the problem of substance abuse.”

            -Booklist (starred review)

“An extensive, critical overview of modern treatment methods for substance abuse. A valuable guide for individuals seeking help and for their families, as well as for policymakers.” -Kirkus

“With the degree of addiction in this country, cutting across all communities, this book looks to be an important purchase.”

-Library Journal

“Like her stunning Sober for Good, Inside Rehab is a transformational read that distinguishes myth from reality in the murky and uncertain world of addiction treatment. This isnt just a useful guide to addiction treatment, Inside Rehab is landmark: it is a brave, bold and paradigm-shifting contribution to the literature. Inside Rehab is a must read for anyone with a stake in addiction treatment.”

            -Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., Director, Division on Addiction, The Cambridge Health Alliance (A Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate); Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

“This is an extraordinary book. I know of nothing like it. Objective, informative and extraordinary detailed, this book tells the truth about how addiction treatment measures up to modern science and medicine and how you can find a quality addiction treatment program.”

            -David C. Lewis, MD, Founder, Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

“The stigma, desperation, and fear that accompany addiction are so often exacerbated by our ignorance of where to turn for help, what to expect, and what to ask. No longer. This long overdue resource informs and empowers suffering individuals and families to know what effective treatment should look like, to ask the right questions, and ultimately, to obtain the quality care they deserve.”

-John F. Kelly, Ph.D. President, Society of Addiction Psychology, American Psychological Association; Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Director, ARMS Program, Mass. General Hospital

“What a great book - so needed and timely! If youre asking yourself, ‘What should I do? for yourself or for a loved one struggling with an addiction, you should read this book. Combining personal stories with in-depth research, Anne Fletcher offers you invaluable inside information about the currently available treatment options. As a professional who has long worked in this field, I learned some useful things that I know I will return to.”

            -F. Michler Bishop, Ph.D., CAS, Director, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, The Albert Ellis Institute

“Finally, a book that takes an inside look at  addiction treatment by blending an investigative-reporter feel with research-minded rigor—invaluable for patients, policy makers, service providers and program administrators.  It also offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of treating a person suffering from chronic addiction.  To accomplish this with such empathy toward the predicament faced by patients and treatment providers is a real achievement.”

            -Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School

“[Inside Rehab] is carefully researched, draws upon considerable expert opinion and research data, and communicates with compassion, ideas about how to navigate this unnecessarily complex field.”

-Mark P. McGovern, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Community and Family Medicine, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

“Fletcher has written one of the most important clinical books in the past decade. Before spending a dime on rehab, for yourself or a loved one, read this book! Her work may do more to help people get and stay sober than millions spent in high dollar rehab facilities.”

-David Ley, Ph.D., author of The Myth of Sex Addiction

“This is the definitive guide to effective rehab - not only a cogent and highly informative summary of what good rehab should look like, but also a birds-eye view of what its like to get good and bad treatment. Finally, consumers will have a way to know how best to help themselves or their family members.”

            -Michael V. Pantalon, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine and CEO of the Center for Progressive Recovery

William Cope Moyers has come a long, long way. In 1994, he lay on the floor of an Atlanta crack house. His father had put together a search party. His worried family waited at home where Moyers had left them when he embarked on yet another binge. From that lowly, drug-hazed night, Moyers went on to become an executive at the Hazelden Foundation and travels far and wide to talk about addiction and treatment.

Broken tells the story of what happened between then and now?from growing up the privileged son of Bill Moyers to his descent into alcoholism and drug addiction, his numerous stabs at getting clean, his many relapses, and how he managed to survive. Harrowing and wrenching, Broken paints a picture of a man with every advantage who nonetheless found himself spiraling into a dark and life-threatening abyss. But unlike other memoirs of its kind, Broken emerges into the clear light of Moyers's recovery as he dedicates his life to changing the politics of addiction. Beautifully written with a deep underlying spirituality, this is a missive of hope for the scores of Americans struggling with addiction?and an honest and inspiring account that proves the spiritual insight that we are strongest at the broken places.

Inside Rehab is the first book to give readers a thoughtful, sensitive, and bracingly honest insider’s view of the drug and alcohol rehab industry in America. It examines its strengths and weaknesses while exploring the disturbing gap between best practice and reality.

Respected health and medical writer Anne M. Fletcher visited fifteen addiction treatment facilities, from outpatient programs for the indigent to famous celebrity rehabs; from the sites of the renowned Twelve-Step centers to several unconventional programs.

Drawing on cutting-edge research as well as hundreds of interviews with clients and staffers, Inside Rehab tells the stories of real people facing the challenges of addiction and shatters a number of longheld myths, including “rehab is

necessary for most people to recover from addictions;” “highly trained professionals provide most of the treatment in addiction programs;” and “drugs should not be used to treat a drug addict.”

But Fletcher’s most important finding is the alarming discrepancy between the treatments being employed at many rehab centers and the treatments recommended by leading experts and supported by scientific research.

For people seeking quality care for themselves or a loved one, Inside Rehab is essential reading, offering a wealth of accurate information and wise guidance.

Drawing on extensive research, including visits to fifteen addiction treatment programs and interviews with more than two hundred clients and professionals in the field, trusted health and medical writer Anne M. Fletcher offers indispensable advice for people seeking quality care for themselves or a loved one. She reveals the ways in which our addiction treatment industry is broken, highlights what is working, and shares insights about how the experience could be more effective. Fletcher sheds light on the science-based practices that should form the basis of treatment, spotlights programs and professionals using those practices, and provides a much-needed guide to different types of treatment and finding quality care when its needed.