One-Way Ticket: Our Son's Addiction to Heroin

by Rita Lowenthal

In 1970, at age 13, Josh Lowenthal used heroin for the first time and began an addiction that would be with him for his whole short life. One-Way Ticket follows Josh on his journey from fleeing early rehab programs in the Northeast as a boy to living on the streets of San Francisco, shoplifting and driving a taxicab to support his habit as a young adult. He entered a downward spiral known to be typical for long-term addicts, was in and out of rehab and jail, by turns hopeful and hopeless about his disease.In this memoir, Rita Lowenthal recreates her son's life, and shows how the lives of his family members and friends were permanently altered by his addiction. It was written in the hopes that the parents of addicts will not feel guilty about their children's choices and will instead develop a greater social perspective about their children's plight.

215 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2007

About the author

Rita Lowenthal, MSW, is retired from the faculties of Hebrew Union College and USC School of Social Work, where she was a charter member of the Betty Friedan Feminist Think Tank. She is active in social action projects in Santa Monica, California, where she and her husband, Jerome Cushman, reside. Her “retirement” includes chairing the Drug Policy Committee of the Criminal Justice Task Force of the Progressive Jewish Alliance as well as serving on the Community Action Committee of Progressive Christians Uniting. A mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she has received numerous awards for her work as educator and community activist.

Reviews

[Moushumi Ghose]

Good read for any parent or family member of an addict.