Review by Macaria81 -- Why can't Johnny Just Quit?

Macaria81 · Post by **Macaria81** » 22 Jun 2019, 00:50

[Following is a volunteer review of "Why can't Johnny Just Quit?" by Kyle Oh.]

3 out of 4 stars

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If addiction were preventable, would you tell your children? After reading this book, I have done just that. Why can’t Johnny Just Quit? by Dr. Kyle Oh, explores why the answer to this question in his 2014 nonfiction book on addiction is the key to understanding and preventing all addictions. Dr. Oh, a physiatrist who specializes in pain management, combines his clinical experience with research in an attempt to redefine the meaning of addiction and how it should be treated and viewed by society. Written as a guide to addiction, the book explains why the standard approach to all addictions but in particular opioids is wrong and proceeds to lay out how addiction occurs and how it can be prevented and treated.

The main premise of the book is that addiction cannot be defined by a set of behaviors. Oh argues that only people who experience euphoria with their initial drug use, which he terms a true high, are able to become addicted to that drug. Oh goes on to describe how addiction occurs, followed by chapters on specific addictions such as alcohol, with an emphasis on opioids and pain management. The book concludes with 20 interesting case studies from Oh’s pain management clinic.

Oh’s theory about a true high is by far the most controversial point of the book, and while some documented evidence is given, Oh mainly relies on his personal experiences and observations to make this argument. However, I think this lack of evidence is common in many books on addiction and it didn’t bother me. In fact, I was persuaded to agree with Oh.

What did bother me was the repetition in the first 6 chapters. I began to wonder whether any new information was going to be presented or if I could stop reading without losing any insight. As the book went on, it became less repetitive and more interesting. In terms of references, I was not impressed. Many of the citations were not academic and merely referenced sites such as Wikipedia. Oh includes a link to an addiction worksheet on his website but it was not available when I tried to find it. I expected better research from an MD.

The vibe I got from Oh was that he really cares about his patients and wrote this book because he felt a duty, maybe even a burden to share what he has learned firsthand treating addicts in his clinic. Not everything is referenced and proven (true high) but it’s his experience with patients that gives him credibility in my opinion. He seems like an extremely compassionate doctor with a heart to heal all who ask for help. Anyone would benefit from reading this book as I think addiction has or will touch all our lives in some way. However, the first half was repetitive and some chapters should be shortened and reorganized. For these reasons, I give Why Can’t Johnny Just Quit? 3 out of 4 stars.

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Why can't Johnny Just Quit?
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rose417 · Post by **rose417** » 23 Jun 2019, 13:02

I like the honesty of this review. I also like that the reviewer suggests ways the content could be improved (shortened, better research/sources). Possibly worth a quick read, but I want a book with better research.

Gabriel Merêncio · Post by **Gabriel Merêncio** » 23 Jun 2019, 18:01

On the one hand, I appreciate the author's earnest intentions and the value of firsthand clinical experience, but on the other, the lack of credible sources and evidence is concerning for a book that strives to better understand and even propose a new theory of addiction. It seems to be worth reading, but it shouldn't be taken at face value without extra research. Great review!