Falling Trees, Color Blind Scientists, and Addiction explores the what and why’s of addiction. We present information on the devasting effect addiction has on individuals and families. Current information and research are offered to the reader in gaining a better understanding of the challenge’s individuals and families face. We explain the different faces of addiction and how difficult it can be to define addiction. Opinions and experiences can vary from person to person and setting to setting. We describe the problem in these terms: if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If someone has a substance abuse problem that has not come up on the radar, does that mean he or she does not have a problem? This is what motivated us to write this book.

Anyone facing, dealing with, or wanting to know more about addiction will benefit from this book. Not all chapters will apply to everyone. However, knowledge is power, as they say. The more informed someone is, the better decisions they can make. By the end, you will not only understand the workings of addiction but also be better equipped to reclaim a healthy lifestyle. We refer to real cases to illustrate our points.