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The Weight of Air

by David Poses

  • Sandra Jonas Publishing
  • 2021
  • ISBN: 978-1954861992
  • 262 pages
  • WorldCat
Weight of Air book cover
About the Book

In his memoir, David chronicles his struggle to overcome mental illness and addiction. By age nineteen, he'd been through medical detox, inpatient rehab, twelve-step programs, and a halfway house. He saw his drug use as a symptom of depression, but the experts insisted that addiction was the problem. Over the next thirteen years, he went from one relapse to the next, drowning in guilt, shame, and secrets, until he finally found an evidence-based treatment that not only saved his life, but helped him thrive. With grit, humor, and brutal honesty, David's story exposes the danger in traditional recovery models: they actually increase stigma and the risk of overdose, relapse, and death. ebook icon Audio book icon

2022 International Book Award in Addiction & Recovery | 2022 Indie Excellence Award in Addiction & Recovery | 2022 Memoir Book Prize in Addiction & Recovery | 2022 Independent Press Award in Addiction & Recovery
David Poses photo
About the Author

David Poses is a writer, speaker, and activist. After hiding his struggle with depression and opioids for twenty years, he started opening up and challenging conventional addiction wisdom. He has been published by the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York Daily News and has appeared on national TV programs, including The Doctors TV Show, and numerous radio shows and podcasts. With candor, humor, and a unique perspective informed by science and experience, David advocates for evidence-based approaches to drug policy, prevention, and treatment. He lives in New York with his wife and two kids.

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last updated: 12/13/25 17:02