Trigger warning: This article and the books discussed within it contain discussions of substance abuse, domestic violence, self-harm, sexual assault, disordered eating, and other mental and physical health issues. Please exercise care when reading.
Millions of people worldwide struggle with substance abuse. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, an estimated 64 million people suffered from a drug use disorder in 2023, a 13% increase from 2013. Only one in 12 was receiving any form of treatment.
Substance abuse and addiction are highly stigmatized, and sobriety is a long, ongoing journey fraught with challenges. Writing can be an incredibly powerful tool, not only for processing those emotions but for connecting with others who’ve been through it and continue to heal. Highly personal and vulnerable, these three memoirs serve as a testament to the incredible resilience of their authors. For anyone seeking guidance on the road to recovery, consider giving them a read.
HOT PICK
Holding: A Memoir About Mothers, Drugs, and Other Comforts by Karleigh Frisbie Brogan
SUMMARY:
When 20-year-old Karleigh Frisbie Brogan moved in with her boyfriend, Dale, and his parents, the couple was only supposed to stay for two weeks. Instead, they remained for two years. As she and Dale secretly grappled with heroin addiction, Brogan developed a loving but complicated relationship with Dale’s mother, Glorianne. Brogan’s memoir explores her search for comfort through her addiction and her bond with this surrogate mother, who sought to fill a maternal void of her own.
WHY:
Brogan wrote Holding, originally her graduate thesis, to address a question: Why do so many struggle with addiction? The process of excavating her memories was emotionally difficult, but as she told The Racket, worth it in order to understand what drove her heroin use. Strikingly written, this highly praised debut reminds us that substance abuse doesn’t only happen in rural areas or major cities. It can happen in seemingly ideal suburbs, like the deceptively picturesque Sonoma County town where Brogan grew up — and it can happen to anyone, even (as Brogan describes herself) ordinarily risk-averse people.
COFFEE SHOP READ
Going Under: A Memoir of Family Secrets, Addiction, and Escape by Seana Smith
SUMMARY:
On the surface, Seana Smith’s life seemed perfect. Having graduated from Oxford, she went on to build a lucrative career as an anchor and author, along with a happy family. But behind closed doors, Smith quietly struggled with alcohol abuse. A childhood spent fearing her violently alcoholic father, forced to keep silent about the troubles at home, led Smith to seek refuge anywhere she could find it. But as drinking started to take over her life, she realized her past still haunted her — and only after some major life changes did she find the strength to start anew.
WHY:
Going Under highlights how substance abuse looks different for everyone, even those we consider “functional” or successful. Whether through influences in our upbringing or “wine mom” culture, drinking can become so normalized that it can be difficult to recognize when it becomes a problem. By turns funny and deeply vulnerable, Smith’s memoir sheds light on the lasting impact childhood trauma can have when unaddressed in adulthood, as well as how the stress of motherhood can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. If you’re looking for a book that feels like a frank chat with a friend, this one comes highly recommended. And for those seeking extra support, Smith runs the Sober Journeys page on Instagram, where she shares alcohol-free alternatives and snapshots from her sober life.
DARK HORSE
Progress Not Perfection: A Memoir of Addiction and Recovery by Alison Ashby
SUMMARY:
In 2017, Alison Ashby awoke in a hospital bed, cognitively impaired and not knowing how she’d gotten there. Doctors told her she’d suffered a seizure due to alcohol withdrawal and that her next drink could very well be her last. Eight years later, Ashby documents her lengthy, hard-fought road to sobriety and the many challenges along the way, along with the resources that eventually helped her regain control over her life.
WHY:
Ashby’s story is a testimonial to how disruptive addiction can be to a sufferer’s life and the lives of those around them. She doesn’t sugarcoat her struggles or her setbacks, from blackouts and meltdowns to DWIs and relapses. Now a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, Ashby’s exactly the person you want in your corner, someone whose compassion comes from a place of experience and understanding.
Recovery can be challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. These three memoirs humanize the struggle and prove that no matter how dark things may seem, healing is possible.
To feel safe at all times is a basic human right; let’s work to make this world physically and mentally safe for everyone.
If you or someone you know is battling with substance abuse, we urge you to be kind and hold space for them and to contact the National Drug Helpline at 1-844-289-0879 or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Treatment options are available at findtreatment.gov.
Click here for three more memoirs that discuss addiction recovery.
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