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  • Chasing the Scream

  • Written by: Johann Hari
  • Narrated by: Johann Hari
  • Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (10 ratings)

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Chasing the Scream

Written by: Johann Hari
Narrated by: Johann Hari
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Publisher's Summary

Revised and Updated.

The New York Times Bestseller.

What if everything you think you know about addiction is wrong? Johann Hari’s journey into the heart of the war on drugs led him to ask this question - and to write the book that gave rise to his viral TED talk, viewed more than 62 million times, and inspired the feature film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and the documentary series The Fix.

One of Johann Hari’s earliest memories is of trying to wake up one of his relatives and not being able to. As he grew older, he realized he had addiction in his family. Confused, not knowing what to do, he set out and traveled over 30,000 miles over three years to discover what really causes addiction - and what really solves it.

He uncovered a range of remarkable human stories - of how the war on drugs began with Billie Holiday, the great jazz singer, being stalked and killed by a racist policeman; of the scientist who discovered the surprising key to addiction; and of the countries that ended their own war on drugs - with extraordinary results.

Chasing the Scream is the story of a life-changing journey that transformed the addiction debate internationally - and showed the world that the opposite of addiction is connection.

©2023 Johann Hari (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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Opened my Eyes

I knew nothing about the drug world. This book changed my perspective and I can only hope politicians can their hands on a copy.

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Breathless, but critical read

For those with more than a passing interest in the drug war and the drug crisis, this is a must read. I can say as a person who knew almost everything. Hari discussed, the stories make it come to life, and it is really wonderful to read about his journey into the research and history of the drug war and our current drug crisis. I have immersed myself in this issue for the past 3 years and although I didn’t learn anything new (except some interesting details about Henry Anslinger. some shocking treatment facilities in Arizona, and Billie Holiday, I think that Hari does a really good job introducing the the complexities of these issues, and his conclusion, with which I agree, that addiction is an issue of desperation and lack of connection. Legalizing even more dangerous and addictive drugs is not the answer to our drug war. Certainly decriminalization must happen. But it must happen the way Portugal did it 20 years ago by implementing extensive treatment centers, drug courts, and involving families in the recoveries of the addict. Now, 20 years later, Portugal‘s wildly, successful approach is starting to be reversed, because funding was gutted. No surprise that they’re losing ground. Oregon recently decriminalized all drugs and has seen a horrifying increase in deaths and addiction, especially amongst youth. it is critical that we get this right. Compassion is critical- but so is evidence. Our incredible success with reducing smoking meant making it expensive, hard to do, and uncool. Portugal, in many European compass countries have dramatically increased the number of treatment facilities and recovery locations. Alberta in Canada is attempting to do the same. A combination of treatment and reducing access is our only chance. Henry does a good job, and making it clear that he leans towards legalization in certain parts.

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