Lighthouse Institute Publications

Slaying the Dragon:
The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America

(William L. White)

The product of more than 20 years of research, Slaying the Dragon is the remarkable story of America’s personal and institutional responses to alcoholism and other addictions. It is the story of mutual aid societies: the Washingtonians, the Blue Ribbon Reform Clubs, the Ollapod Club, the United Order of Ex-Boozers, the Jacoby Club, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Women for Sobriety. It is a story of addiction treatment institutions from the inebriate asylums and the Keely Institutes to Hazelden and Parkside. It is a story of evolving treatment interventions that range from water cures and mandatory sterilization to aversion therapies and methadone maintenance. Author William White provides a sweeping and engaging history of one of America’s most enduring problems and the profession that was born to respond to it.

Section Titles include:

• The Rise of Addiction and The Personal Recovery Movement in the 19th Century
• The Birth of Addiction Treatment in America
• Evolving Approaches to Alcoholism Treatment: 1860-1940
• Treating Addiction to Narcotics and Other Drugs
• A. A. and the Modern Alcoholism Movement
• Mid- Century Addiction Treatment
• Addiction Treatment in the Late 20th Century

[View the complete Table of Contents]

$19.95
ORDER #A104   ISBN 0-9384575-07-X   390 PAGES   SOFT COVER   1998