See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/26060748

In the realm of hungry ghosts. Close encounters with addiction

Article  in  Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien · June 2008

CITATIONS READS
9 18,179

1 author:

Len Kelly
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
120 PUBLICATIONS   1,296 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Len Kelly on 27 February 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

In the realm of crystal methamphetamine. Maté out-

hungry ghosts.
lines the neurobiology and physiology
that inform these stories, from birth

Close encounters
to struggling adulthood. The stories of
abuse and neglect are also informed

with addiction
by a focused literature review, which
examines dopamine deficiency, poor
self-esteem, absent coping skills, and
AUTHOR  Gabor Maté behavioural patterns extended from
PUBLISHER  Knopf Canada, 2775 childhood. The author points out that
Matheson Blvd E, Mississauga, ON drug abuse is a solitary coping mecha-
ML4W 4P7 nism to survive a life many would not
TELEPHONE  905 624-0672 otherwise be able to. Biologically low
FAX 905 624-6217 serotonin levels and undiagnosed atten-
WEBSITE  www.randomhouse.ca tion deficit hyperactivity disorder leave
PUBLISHED  2008/480 pp/$34.95 addicts described in this book medically
undertreated and socially outcast. The
OVERALL RATING  Excellent authenticity of the work comes from
the author’s self-disclosure and his ongoing care of
STRENGTHS  Personal and patient stories
addiction patients.
interwoven with the neurophysiologic, philo-
The work shares and educates. Political and social
sophic, and sociopolitical edges of addiction realities and perspectives about addiction are explored.
WEAKNESSES  Continual shifting from The reader learns there is no easy way to cope with this
sedating physiologic discussions to complex biological, medical, social, and spiritual situ-
riveting clinical scenarios ation. Many addicts might remain addicted for the rest
of their lives. The challenge for caregivers is to under-
AUDIENCE  Physicians, addiction workers, and
stand the “addicted mind and to support healing.” Maté
politicians
discusses treatment and harm reduction with some spe-
cifics, and references other treatments and resources.

G
abor Maté works with heavily addicted patients Like the patient, treatment is complex. “Addiction floods
in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He “learned in where self knowledge and divine knowledge are
much” about himself from this authorship. He missing… spiritual and psychological work both are nec-
discovers his own addictive tendencies by defining addic- essary to reclaim our true nature.”
tion as a continuum that extends from the disheveled The book is an excellent scientific and personal read,
street person using injectable drugs—whom we might and a solid starting point to developing an informed per-
avoid on street corners—to the well-dressed, successful spective on addiction.
workaholic, like a physician, who is addicted to recogni- —Len Kelly MD MClSc CCFP FCFP
tion, fame, and self-promotion. Addiction “arises near our
emotional core,” and Maté holds up a stark mirror, chal- Dr Kelly is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine
lenging many “comfortable pew” perspectives. at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and an
The book begins with stories of patients who have Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at McMaster
spent their lives addicted to heroin, cocaine, and University in Sioux Lookout, Ont.

894  Canadian Family Physician • Le Médecin de famille canadien  Vol 54:  june • juin 2008

View publication stats