Weather you’ve suffered from addiction or are just curious about those that have, these memoirs about addiction is guaranteed page turners.
Have you seen Beautiful Boy? You know, the movie about a teenager and his journey to overcome his addiction?
If you’re not into movies and prefer books, you’ll be glad to know that Beautiful Boy is actually based on not one but two memoirs. Yes, two.
The first one is Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff. And the other one is Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff.
So that’s two memoirs about addiction that are worth adding to your book list. If you want more, here are five others you’ll want to check out.
5 Memoirs About Addiction You Should Add to Your TBR List
Not every book on this list will resemble your personal recovery journey. But they’re still worth picking up if only to remind yourself that you’re not alone.
And if you’re not the one who’s addicted but have a loved one suffering from it, any of these books could help give you a better insight into their reality. Hopefully, this can help you help your loved one with their recovery.
- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
This autobiography is proof that addiction memoirs can be funny. Yes, addiction itself is a serious thing. But it doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself from anything fun just because you’re in recovery.
And many who are going through the same thing or have a loved one who is an alcoholic or an addict will be able to relate. Sure, there will be ups and downs, and the book demonstrates that.
It’s when you can laugh at your struggles later in life, that you know you’re going to be just fine. And that’s one of the best takeaways you can get from this memoir.
- The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll
If you’re looking for books about heroin addiction, this is it. It was even made into a movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
But take it from us, the book’s way better than the film. Because while the film has Leo in it, it has none of the rawness and the grit that made the book so compelling.
To summarize, it’s a journal by poet and rocker Jim Carroll. It details his teenage life as a rising basketball star and the events that led him to become a heroin addict. In 1978, Carroll published a sequel titled, Forced Entries: The Downtown Diaries, 1971-73.
- Dry by Augusten Burroughs
One of the best alcoholic memoirs, Dry chronicles Augusten Burroughs’ decade-long battle with alcoholism. The first part talks about the intervention staged by his boss and co-workers, as well as his stay at a rehab facility. And the second part centers on his life after rehab and his subsequent relapse after the death of a close friend.
But don’t worry. This memoir ends on a good note. Burroughs eventually gets clean and even helps another alcoholic friend with his recovery.
- A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
Don’t you just love a good “beating the odds” story? This is one of those, except with some harrowing details.
In this book, Cupcake Brown (that’s her real name) talks about her experiences with prostitution, drug and alcohol addiction, and how she rebuilt her life.
Spoiler Alert: Brown is now a successful lawyer who runs her own law office.
- In My Skin by Kate Holden
When you hear about celebrities checking in and out of rehab, you may think, “Oh but it’s a common thing in Hollywood.” And then you read about memoirs like In My Skin, and you wonder if everyone could be an addict.
That’s because Holden is a self-confessed sensible prude. A prude who experimented with drugs, which became a full-blown addiction.
And like other drug addicts, her parents also put her in rehab. But it didn’t take.
According to Inspire Malibu, the relapse rate for drug abuse is around 60%. So what happened to Holden isn’t that surprising. What’s good though is that she was able to get clean with the help of methadone and her family.
Looking for More Addiction Memoirs or Recovery Articles?
The seven we mentioned here are only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. There are more memoirs about addiction for you to pore over. You can find good recommendations online or on apps such as GoodReads.
For more articles on recovery, you can browse our blog. Check out 4 Sober Activities While on Vacation in Cancun and 7 Popular Destinations with a Low Drinking Culture.
