That's What Junkies Do

by Thomas Figlioli

That's What Junkies Do is a brutally honest, often dark journey of one man's struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction. The story starts innocently enough in 1980's Brooklyn, NY, with a young boy, Thomas Figlioli, making a bad choice so he could gain the respect of a group of kids he looked up to and admired. Alcohol gives him the courage to be the person he always wanted to be. His fear and insecurity leaves and his lifelong struggle begins. Being a good student, Thomas lands a scholarship to Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, where his alcohol use and hard partying ways increase with each passing day. When things start to turn sour in Pleasantville, he moves back to Brooklyn for a geographic change. It is back in his old hometown that his life starts to unravel at a steady and almost torturous pace. After losing a promising career in the financial industry, his life turns even darker, eventually being hospitalized in a psych unit for alcohol and cocaine use. Once released he immediately reverts to the same ways. Thomas's life becomes a vicious cycle of addiction, graduating to harder and more damaging drugs. There is nothing he won't do and nobody he won't hurt. When thoughts of ending it all become a better choice than living how he is, Thomas finally asks for help and gets it through a program of twelve step recovery. He comes back to life only to fall back into his old ways a few short years later. Now, a grown man and upstanding citizen, with a career, a fiancé and people who count on him every day, Thomas secretly navigates his way through a seven-and-a-half-year struggle with various prescription medications, eventually finding his way back to recovery and the life he always prayed for when times were at their worst.

Genres: Nonfiction

252 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2021

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anyway to give this book 15 stars ?

THE most engrossing story of addiction and recovery I have EVER read and I read many of these in a year.

You can feel how raw and honest it all is. Particularly, it clearly shows that addiction is not linear at all and that many addicts "don't get cured just like that". Some never do. Also, this is the first book that actually outlines the though process of an addict's stilted thinking "I will do it just once it'd fine"

Surprisingly, zero lewedness no sex no cursuing but a lot of scary thoughts....."after this I Will be ok". "my uncle understands why I am not at his funeral" all lies addicts tell themselves to get to their next fix

Writing is so down to earth.

Wow, wow, wow

[Brian Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator added a level of authenticity with the accent. The story itself was amazing, too, though. Brutally honest. I'm glad you made it out the other side to share your story, Thomas. People like us don't always make it out alive.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ... what a book! I just couldn't put this down and read it in less than a day. Horrifying and heartfelt Tommy's story had me willing him to do the right thing. A sad story of how drugs can destroy someone's life and the hope that recovery can bring.

[Lorie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this journey that Tommy went on, wow! I've read a lot of non fiction memoirs on this subject matter and this was another great listen, the narration was so good; I could picture being there w/him. perfect description of the life of a high functioning at first, then kinda functioning to, wtf! highly recommend