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What could have been done differently to save Michelle Jackson? And what can save other Michelle Jacksons?
The Candle Store is a real-time narrative of the havoc caused by alcohol addiction. It is a window into the chaos caused by one woman’s descent into alcoholism. Drinking not only caused Michelle Jackson’s life to be ruined (indeed, it ended it), but it also had an enormous impact on her family. Despite frantic efforts to obtain help for her, the story demonstrates how difficult it was to access assistance. At various points, the system failed her. It takes the entire compilation to get a true picture of what a tragedy this was, to cut through the anger and mess to realize how much talent was wasted. The hope is that her experience can help other alcoholics, other families impacted by alcohol, or perhaps be used to train addiction specialists. This book is needed because what is out there already is NOT WORKING. There is nothing like this available now. It is not a description, or a memoir, or a case study. The reader does not know what is coming because her family did not know as it was happening, just like addiction in real life. It is innovative in style, inherently engaging, and relatable; it is not a boring and dry academic treatise. In this way, perhaps more people on the ground or actually impacted by addiction can be accessed.
The Candle Store does not claim to offer any answers, and that is the point. Perhaps seeing this real-life progressive decline can highlight for professionals and educators where the system failed and find entry points for future truly successful interventions. It is short, in real-life language, and does not suffer from interpretation or hindsight-this is exactly what happened. It also is a glimpse into the vastly underserved group of middle-aged women with substance use disorders-a major deficit in addiction literature and treatment. The intended audience is addiction specialists and educators. However, it would also be useful for families impacted by addiction, AA sponsors, counselors, probation officers, clergy, and medical personnel, as well as those dealing with substance use disorders themselves. Anyone who works with individuals with substance use and mental health disorders would benefit from this deep dive into the downward spiral of addiction.
