Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic discusses the reasons why we are seeing a growing problem in the area of mood disorders and addiction and what can be done to solve these issues. Gathered through a series of expert interviews, the book presents relevant information about various aspects of addiction, including Internet addiction, illegal drugs, and legal drugs (caffeine, sugar, alcohol, nicotine and prescription medications). These interviews also offer insights into some cutting-edge nutritional treatments that have proven to be effective at curing both mood disorders and addiction.

This book is a wake-up call, warning society that unless we learn about more successful recovery treatment strategies, we will continue to see skyrocketing rates of mood disorders and addiction. Since current conventional therapies are ineffective and obsolete, the time has come to introduce effective nutritional approaches into treatment protocols.

Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic is highly recommended for those who are suffering from mood disorders or addiction. Not only does it offer a tremendous amount of helpful information, it also offers hope to those who would otherwise have none.

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ENDORSEMENTS

Pam Killeen has asked me to review her wonderful new book Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic and to record my impression. As a retired orthomolecular psychiatrist I am all too familiar with the ravages of addictive behaviors, which is an important component of not only criminal and other psychiatric pathology, as well as affecting millions of people who resort to chemicals—legal and illegal—to find some relief from debilitating mood disorders. Her book is crammed with references to countless studies showing how the chemicalization of our society has produced in Aldous Huxley’s words "a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies . . . distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda or brainwashing . . . enhanced by pharmacological methods." 

She points out that, contrary to popular opinion, legal drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and thousands of prescription and OTC drugs, such as opioids, stimulants, tranquillizers and sedatives are the main reasons why patients are admitted to emergency departments of hospitals. 

The author correctly points out that one of the major factors responsible for addiction is the "rise of pro-addiction diet": that is, a commercialized diet that has been robbed of the nutrients that are necessary for the body to manufacture the various feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin. The tragedy is that cheap industrially processed foods have become the main part of our diets. About 90% of our food dollars are spent on these nutrient-deficient foods.

In order to help solve our addiction epidemic, we must return to basics—and that means returning to the nutrient-dense foods that kept our ancestors both physically and mentally healthy. As a nutritional psychiatrist, I have witnessed patients improve their mental health as they introduce these natural foods into their diets.   

She records how hypoglycemia—an illness and forerunner of diabetes, obesity, and Syndrome X—and which has been declared by the American Medical Association to be non-existent in 1973, is now a major contributor to the development of epidemic of addiction and mental illnesses today.

Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic offers a thorough exploration into the causes of and solutions for our most prevalent health problem. We can no longer ignore the devastating effects of mood disorders and addiction on society and must recognize the common sense solutions Ms. Killeen proposes in her book. If you know someone struggling with a mood disorder or addiction, the information and extensive resources in this book will help guide them to the answers they need. This book should also be required reading for every therapist working in the recovery field.

Dr. Chris M Reading, BSc, Dip Ag Sc, MB, BS, FRANZCP, FACNEM,
Orthomolecular Psychiatrist, Author

 

Writing with a clarity that has long been missing from this subject, Pam Killeen very concisely details what is really behind the widespread problem of addiction. Other speakers and writers have occasionally and perhaps accidentally touched upon a source or two of addictive behavior, but they have rarely hit the issue head-on as has the author in her landmark work.

Importantly, though, Ms. Killeen’s book goes well beyond simply revealing the true causes of addiction, she also shows the way out of the addiction morass in which Western society has especially found itself. Using carefully-selected experts as her foils, the author makes a solid case for the nutritional solution. For those who want true answers to their problems of addiction or those of their patients or loved ones, this book is vital. I recommend it to all.

Scott C. Tips,
President, National Health Federation

 

If you are suffering from any addiction, this book is a must-read. You will learn how to successfully get the monkey off your back, take away your pain and restore your life.

Burton Goldberg, The Voice of Alternative Medicine,
Bestselling Author, Documentary Filmmaker

 

The notion that addiction is not merely a psychological and behavioral problem is truly borne out in this excellent book by Pam Killeen – Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic. Pam Killeen thoroughly researches metabolic issues, nutritional, dietary and hormonal manifestations that may contribute or possibly even cause addiction. Her book is brilliantly presented and excellently cross-referenced allowing the reader to find original resource material. 

The epidemic of poor nutrition signals what I consider the sad victory of the fast food chains where fast food and junk food become the norm rather than the occasional treat.  The “victory is of sugar and plant-based oils and fats” and minerally-depleted foods replacing the good wholesome foods of a traditional diet. Over the years, I have personally had a special interest in treating hypoglycemia. The treatment is essentially dietary involving sugar avoidance and frequent small meals. Over the 32 years of my private practice I have come to realize that this is a major metabolic consideration as many sufferers with alcohol and drug addiction when tested do, in fact, suffer from Reactive Hypoglycemia or Functional Hypoglycemia. 

Pam Killeen has extended the net to include many prescription drugs and the subsequent addictions to these that may occur. I recall during the 1980’s having read that Valium (Diazepam) had become the most prescribed drug on the planet. Thank goodness that has changed. However, we humans still gravitate towards addictions.

Ms. Killeen has written an excellent book. I would recommend it to all health professionals especially doctors, nurses, therapists and psychologists involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Personally, I feel this book should be compulsory examined material for medical undergraduates throughout the advanced western world.

Dr. George Samra,
Patron of the Australian Hypoglycemic Health Association and author of
The Hypoglycemic Connection 2 and The Allergy Connection

 

Pam Killeen has done an excellent job connecting the malnourished brain to a host of psychological maladies such as depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, OCD, schizophrenia and so on. As a nutrition and fitness consultant, I have seen the deleterious effects of restrictive fad diets and substance abuse on both sports performance and basic day-to-day quality of life.  Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic is required reading for anyone living in this nutritionally-starved and chemically-drenched, industrialized culture.

Randy Roach,
Author, Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors