Reflections on addiction

Addict in the family:how to cope with the long haul. Andrew Byrne. Sydney: Tosca 1996 (88pp., $13.00). ISBN: 0 646 29144 0.

Andrew Byrne was the first general practitioner to prescribe methadone in New South Wales and he remains a leader in the treatment of drug addiction. I read his book on a flight between Melbourne and Darwin (actually it was read between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek - it is a very slim volume). On arrival in Darwin the depth of Dr Byrne's interest and influence was demonstrated by a letter from him in that day's Northern Territory News offering the Territory's Health Minister advice about Darwin's methadone program. This book is not, as claimed on page 20, "primarily concerned with the young adult who is using heroin on a daily basis", nor is it a systematic guide for the families of drug addicts, as the title suggests. It is a farrago of opinions, observations, statistics, historical anecdotes and clinical vignettes which do not always bear a relationship to the chapter headings. It reflects the author's wide experience, interest and enthusiasm. The whimsical nature of the book is well demonstrated in the last paragraph, where we are informed that "Pope John-Paul II was revived by a cup of coca leaf tea when visiting high altitude areas in South America. This benign beverage may be a useful remedy for jet-lag as well as altitude sickness." Any medical practitioner will be interested and informed by this book, whether it is read as a whole or dipped into at random. Dr Byrne covers a wide range of topics in a very readable style and a single philosophy or treatment regimen is not espoused. As such, the book fills a gap in this important area and represents excellent value for money. Ian Y Jackson Psychiatrist, Melbourne, VIC