Pill Head: The Secret Life of a Painkiller Addict
Jul 2009 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing
star
27 reviews
Ebook
288
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
This compelling, honest book investigates the growing epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse among today's Generation Rx. Through gripping profiles and heartbreaking confessions, this memoir dares to uncover the reality -- the addiction, the withdrawal, and the recovery -- of this newest generation of pill poppers. Joshua Lyon was no stranger to substance abuse. By the time he was seventeen, he had already found sanctuary in pot, cocaine, Ecstasy, and mushrooms -- just to name a few. Ten years later, on assignment for Jane magazine, he found himself with a two-inch-thick bottle of Vicodin in his hands and only one decision to make: dispose of the bottle or give in to his curiosity. He chose the latter. In a matter of weeks he'd found his perfect drug. In the early half of this decade, purchasing painkillers without a doctor was as easy as going online and checking the spam filter in your inbox. The accessibility of these drugs -- paired with a false perception of their safety -- contributed to their epidemic-like spread throughout America's twenty-something youth, a group dubbed Generation Rx. Pill Head is Joshua Lyon's harrowing and bold account of this generation, and it's also a memoir about his own struggle to recover from his addiction to painkillers. The story of so many who have shared this experience--from discovery to addiction to rehabilitation -- Pill Head follows the lives of several young people much like Joshua and dares to blow open the cultural phenomena of America's newest pill-popping generation. Marrying the journalist's eye with the addict's mind, Joshua takes readers through the shocking and often painful profiles of recreational users and suffering addicts as they fight to recover. Pill Head is not only a memoir of descent, but of endurance and of determination. Ultimately, it is a story of encouragement for anyone who is wrestling to overcome addiction, and anyone who is looking for the strength to heal.
This compelling, honest book investigates the growing epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse among today's Generation Rx. Through gripping profiles and heartbreaking confessions, this memoir dares to uncover the reality -- the addiction, the withdrawal, and the recovery -- of this newest gener...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
27 reviews
Alyssa “Ally” Steele
- Flag inappropriate
October 20, 2016
Thank you, Josh. As the loved one of someone struggling through rehab for prescription drugs I found this insightful yet comforting while still crying at times reading this. There were so many things going on with my loved one I didn't know about. This helped the healing process. Thank you for sharing your story. You are brave and should be proud of your progress.
4 people found this review helpful
Stephanie Bondy
- Flag inappropriate
June 27, 2025
I read this in 2011, just as I was cultivating my own pill addiction. I have never forgotten it. The author is real and informative and human at the same time..
Caroline Langella
- Flag inappropriate
July 15, 2016
Great book, awesome read. Joshua Lyons Tell's it like it is, you feel like you are going through everything with him. I couldn't put the book down. Thanks for the awesome read!!!!!!
3 people found this review helpful
About the author
Joshua Lyon is a journalist who has worked for several major publications including Interview, Conde Nast Traveler and Jane; he is currently a contributor to New York magazine and Page Six magazine. This is his first book.
Joshua Lyon is a journalist who has worked for several major publications including Interview, Conde Nast Traveler and Jane; he is currently a contributor to New York magazine and Page Six magazine. This is his first book.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
