The
stigma of alcoholism is what keeps many alcoholics from seeking help
for their disease. The
controversial subject is captured in Adding
Fire to the Fuel,
the third recovery-oriented book by award-winning author Scott
Stevens. Stevens is debuting the book June 13 at Book Passage in San
Francisco's Ferry Building on
the famed Embarcadero
as part of the REEL Recovery Film Festival. Stevens spoke at a
symposium to launch the festival in 2014, and is rolling out the new
book at what he calls “the right time for the recovery movement, in
conjunction with two
of the nation's most meaningful organizations dedicated to reducing
stigma.”
Much
of what is known about the disease of alcoholism connects it to flaws
in genes which control metabolism of alcohol as well as the brain's
risk/reward biochemistry. “It's
a disease. Same kind of chronic, progressive,
incurable-but-treatable,
primary
and fatal classification as cancer or diabetes. When we handle
people with those other diseases with empathy, and dish out distaste
to alcoholics or
recovering ones,
we create a social and economic problem that's passed its tipping
point.”
The
new book, available at all retailers following the California launch,
looks at the stigma around alcoholism and alcoholism recovery as a
$226 billion annual
problem hiding in plain sight. “The story of alcohol and America's
affair with it keeps it from being recognized as the problem.
Instead, people with the disease of alcoholism are considered the
problem. 'Alcoholic' is a pejorative today. That's ripe for
change,” says the author.
The
third-leading cause of preventable death and illness stays under the
radar because of good advertising and bad stigma, according to
Stevens. “Its purveyors are proclaimed as charitable kings. Those
who use it and discover alcohol has
health and social consequences, are labeled as villains, kill-joys,
weak,
weird, or morally
off. What that stigma does
to keep people from getting help also keeps the
discussion of what alcohol does to you behind the
wishful-thinking-driven
chatter about what it does
for you. The tipping point has
passed. The
status quo: No
longer sustainable or acceptable.”
Adding
Fire to the Fuel
examines:
- How
families and communities
feed public
and self-stigma even while
the stigma
holds them back;
- How
stigma has become a barrier to many who want help;
- How
to hang on to sobriety in a pro-alcohol world;
- And
how PANonymous alcoholics will reduce stigma more than all the
protests combined.
Writers
In Treatment presents the REEL Recovery Film Festival at sites around
the U.S. The multi-day event is a celebration of film, the arts,
writing and creativity, showcasing filmmakers who make honest films
about addiction, alcoholism, behavioral disorders, treatment and
recovery. Stevens
will speak at the film fest again this year, following the premier of
Jay Silverman's Girl
on the Edge, and
a session with Kitty Dukakis. Alcohol
watchdog group, Alcohol Justice, is a presenting sponsor of the film
festival in northern California and is instrumental in the book
launch for Adding
Fire to the Fuel (ISBN:
978-1-63192-906-9).
Stevens says of both organizations, “It's an honor to be involved
with two of the groups so influential in tearing down stigma and
portraying alcohol
accurately.
We
all endorse the fact
that sobriety is a better thing to have than to lack.”
He
adds, “There's an
impressive
recovery atmosphere in northern California that is as robust as you
find in Arizona, Florida, Texas and other locales. It's a great
place for a recovering
alcoholic like me to debut a book like this one.” The independent
author launched Every
Silver Lining Has a Cloud at
Milwaukee's largest independent bookseller, Boswell Books, in 2013.
The preliminary roundup for REEL Recovery includes:
Thursday, June 11, 2015
New People Cinema – San Francisco
7-9 p.m.
Girl On the Edge (2014) (S.F. Premiere) with Jay Silverman – Director, Taylor Spreitler – Actress, Mackenzie Phillips – Actress,
Friday, June 12, 2015
Smith Rafael Film Center – San Rafael
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Kids Are Dying (2014) (Director’s Cut – World Premiere) Michael DeLeon – Producer/Director, and New People Cinema – San Francisco
6-8 p.m.
An American Epidemic (2015) (West Coast Premiere) Michael DeLeon – Producer/Director and 8-10 p.m.
The Wisdom to Know the Difference (2014) (S.F. Premiere) Daniel Baldwin – Writer/Producer/Director.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Book Passage Book Store – Ferry Building, San Francisco
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Adding Fire to the Fuel – Book Launch - Author Event
Scott Stevens
New People Cinema – San Francisco
2-3:45 p.m.
Stories of Alcohol Justice - Eason Ramson (2014) (0:23:25)
Eason Ramson talks about his life and professional football career that ended when he
spiraled into substance abuse, crime, and prison, 6-8 p.m.
Anonymous People (2103) Intimate Conversation: Kitty Dukakis & Jan Wahl – Women in Recovery, and 8:30–10 p.m.
Chasing the Muse – Stone Cold Sober
A Candid Conversation About Creativity and Recovery
Jan Wahl – TV Personality/Film Reviewer - Moderator, Scott Stevens – Author, Elizabeth Edwards – Singer/Musician, John O. Whittaker, Jr. – Actor
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Smith Rafael Film Center and New People Cinema: Robin Williams Tribute with Michael Pritchard
and Comedians Into Recovery featuring Michael Pritchard – MC, Mark Ludholm, Johnny Steele and Barry Diamond.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: Stevens
is a noted journalist on alcoholism and
a founding influencer of the world's largest medical portal,
HealthTap.com.
His books on the
disease
include
2010's
What
the Early Worm Gets and
2012's Every
Silver Lining Has a Cloud,
which earned finalist honors in the Indie Book Awards and USA Best
Books Awards in 2013.
For
more information on the
new book,
please visit www.alcohologist.com
and
for information on the film festival, please visit
www.filmfestsfbay.org.
