Book review: The Last Addiction

by Gary Washer

Many people in the world struggle with some type of addiction, whether it is anger, sex, substances, or work. Many of these same people play a game with themselves.  They will tell themselves things like, “I will stop this time.”

They may make an effort to go to counseling, AA/NA, or church ministries and programs.  The game is that they keep looking for the next thing to learn or the next  program that will be the big step that makes it all better.

In other words, this person is basing their recovery all on his own efforts.  This is the last addiction: thinking that I can stop the behavior with my own power and means.  The problem with this way of addressing addiction is that if the addict could stop with their own power, then why have they not stopped already?

Anyone reading this who finds himself or herself partaking in the last addiction will enjoy Sharon Hersh’s book “The Last Addiction.“  Sharon is a recovering alcoholic and counselor.  She knows about the last addiction because she had it in her own life.  She recommends we do everything in our power to recover, but in the end we must rely on something outside of us.  Find her book on our recommended readings page and find out what she discovered that can end the last addiction.