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“Barnes does a masterful job describing the science behind this complex chronic disease, as well as putting a human face on it through the lives of her patients. . . . [She... [continued in Reviews below]”—PsycCRITIQUES, American Psychological Association
Personal narratives and recent studies in brain science illustrate how addiction is a chronic illness
This book, written from the perspective of a practicing primary care physician, interweaves patients’ stories with fascinating new brain research to show how addictive drugs overtake basic brain functions and transform them to create a chronic illness that is very difficult to treat.
The idea that drug and alcohol addiction are chronic illnesses and not character flaws is not news—this notion has been around for many years. What Hijacked Brains offers is context and personal stories that demonstrate this point in a very accessible package. Dr. Barnes explores how the healthy brain works, how addictive drugs flood basic reward pathways, and what it feels like to grapple with addiction. She discusses how, for individuals, the combination of genetic and environmental factors determines both vulnerability for addiction and the resilience necessary for recovery. Finally, she shows how American culture, with its emphasis on freewill and individualism, tends to blame the addict for bad choices and personal weakness, thereby impeding political and/or health-related efforts to get the addict what she needs to recover.
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Reviews / Endorsements
“Barnes does a masterful job describing the science behind this complex chronic disease, as well as putting a human face on it through the lives of her patients. . . . [She] has done a remarkable job describing the science and art of addiction medicine. Hijacked Brains should be mandatory reading for medical students and primary care residents.” —PsycCRITIQUES, American Psychological Association
“This book could profitably be used in a wide variety of settings (undergraduate and graduate) and majors (health, social sciences, social services, and medicine) to promote understanding of drug abuse and its impact on individuals. . . . Highly recommended.”
—Choice
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HENRIETTA ROBIN BARNES, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School. She has been a practicing primary care physician for over thirty years.
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