Everyone ‘knows’ what addiction is and what should be done for it. But as this book shows, individual experience cannot apply universally. The psychology of denial – addicts telling themselves that they aren't addicted – is the most devastating feature of addiction.

This book offers much practical guidance, with reference to entirely anonymised individual experiences. The entire emphasis of the book is on what works. It also explains why some approaches do not work.

The author contends that there are three causes for addiction: the antecedent cause is probably genetic; the contributory cause is emotional, physical or social trauma leading to a craving for mood-alteration; the precipitant cause is exposure – discovering something that lifts our mood. Treatment, he believes, will therefore also have to be in three phases, in reverse order: abstinence; emotional (not intellectual) therapy; daily relapse prevention by working the Twelve Step Programme first formulated by Alcoholics Anonymous.

Dr Lefever explains specific addictions. These come in three clusters: hedonistic, nurturant and relationship. Some addicts have just one of these clusters, some two, some all. He shows how patients and their families can take action to unblock delay in seeking recovery. He considers known intervention techniques and family work in tackling compulsive helping, where pain is the great teacher.

This practical book, which also explains the key terminology used in the field, offers important guidance on life in recovery, on real friendships, on spontaneity, creativity and enthusiasm.

Dr Lefever also examines the future of addiction treatment, as well as its politics.