Addiction and Art

by Patricia Santora (Editor), Margaret L. Dowell (Editor), Jack E. Henningfield (Editor)

Highly Commended in Psychiatry, 2011 BMA Medical Book Awards. British Medical Association Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is one of the major public health issues of our time. It accounts for one of every five deaths in the United States and costs approximately one-half trillion dollars per year in health care expenditures and lost productivity. Its human costs are untold and perhaps uncountable. Addiction and Art puts a human face on addiction through the creative work of individuals who have been touched by it. The art included here presents unique stories about addiction. Many pieces are stark representations of life on the edge. Others are disturbing contemplations of life, meaning, and death. Some even reflect the allure of addiction and a fondness for substance abuse. A panel of addiction scientists, artists, and professionals from the art world selected the 61 pieces included here from more than 1,000 submissions. Accompanied by a written statement from the artist, each creation is emblematic of the destructive power of addiction and the regenerative power of recovery. Stunning and occasionally unsettling, this unique portfolio reveals addiction art as a powerful complement to addiction science.

184 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2010

Reviews

[Chris Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

as one of the artists in the book, I was excited to get the book, but when I read the text and saw all of the art work, I was very happily shocked. Amazing book.

[Erika Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and its wonderful collection of images. I really appreciated the mix of technically sound art versus art that is not so good technically but highly charged. This book shows just how powerful art can be in supporting the healing process, from addiction or any ailment. I will definitely be buying this book.