Slaying the Dragon: A South African Billionaire's Battle to Conquer Opioid Addiction

by Antonio Iozzo

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!

Ever wondered what it takes to rise from near-death to extraordinary success? This book is for anyone looking for inspiration, resilience, and powerful business insights.

Uncover the dual journey of Antonio Iozzo, who battled addiction while rising as a visionary leader, providing you with the strength to overcome your own challenges. Get inside the mind of a CEO managing a multibillion-rand empire while facing a crippling addiction, so you can apply these lessons to your personal and professional life. Discover the dangers of opioid addiction and the path to recovery, giving you the knowledge to protect yourself and your loved ones. The bravest book you’ll read this year! Gain access to business insights and strategies from one of Africa's top entrepreneurs, enabling you to elevate your own business ventures. Witness an incredible story of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness, inspiring you to tackle your own life's obstacles with renewed vigor.

Authentic, Best-selling Delve into a narrative with proven insights.Secure Experience a path that is tested and verified.Research-backed Gain results-driven strategies supported by thorough research.Ironclad Enjoy a promise of genuine and authentic content.
Don't wait—unlock the secrets to resilience, success, and unparalleled business acumen. Buy now and transform your life today!Antonio Iozzo’s story is a compelling blend of memoir and business wisdom. As the first local business memoir highlighting addiction as a core theme, it sheds light on the emerging Oxy opioid crisis in South Africa and addresses Oxy and Suboxone addiction. Both inspiring and highly informative, the book offers a unique perspective on overcoming addiction while achieving business success.

Genres: Biography

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2024

Reviews

[Audrey Freed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having grown up in Johannesburg, I found the content of this book particularly interesting, as many of the places referenced were familiar and evoked a sense of connection. The author’s journey through opioid addiction and his path to recovery is a courageous and inspiring story. However, I found the writing style quite simple, and at times repetitive, which made the reading experience a little frustrating for me. That said, the honesty and rawness of the storytelling may appeal to readers who appreciate a more conversational tone.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 and a half stars. Interesting enough but not really very well written.

[Marline Pallais · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fast read that caught my attention from reading an excerpt in an airline magazine. Having gone through the addiction and recovery of some family members I was curious to read the story from the addicts side. I found it lacking in the kind of detail that would help an outsider really feel the experience. There is a sense of describing the addiction, withdrawal and destruction of this man’s family life in superficial terms. I don’t think he is someone who does much self reflection (indeed he says he always looks forward) and that left me, as the reader, no more informed than before reading this book. He does put some significant effort in touting his business successes and financial achievements. He gives minimal insight or credit to what his wife and kids had to suffer as he spent years pursuing adrenaline junkie activities and the subsequent recoveries and addictions. Lastly, he frequently mentions the difference between his ability to afford rehab care and meds and wonders how the ‘normal’ person could possibly do it. He acknowledges that anyone could become addicted to Oxy within two weeks of taking it and yet there is no mention of any interest in helping those people either in rehab or educating the medical community of South Africa. This book felt like another money making opportunity for Antonio Iozzo.

[Janine Roussouw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would describe the book as an autobiographical business memoir intertwined with the reality of opioid addiction. Antonio Iozzo goes into detail about how he started off his business, the risks involved, the blood, sweat and daily grind, to the multi-billion rand success it is today. Then he takes the reader down the rabbit-hole of his opioid addiction. After an accident with his superbike in Cape Town his T7 vertebra was shattered, 14 ribs broken and both lungs punctured. The dragon which he refers to is his addiction to Oxynorm and Suboxone, which were pills prescribed for his back pain after the operation. After more operations, painful withdrawals, clock-watching for his next fix, he decided enough is enough. He went to see a psychiatrist who prescribed a patch, which led him on a path to be drug free. The book is inspiring, hard-core, fills one with hope, shows that consistency is key in business and health. Antonio emphasizes that mental health is very, very important. Go out and get this book!

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book.
Antonio Iozzo is a man to be admired for his tenacity, bravery and his business sense. He has built his empire by himself and that is impressive.
He had a motorcycle accident and after surgery he became addicted to opioid which his Doctor prescribed. His battle with pain led him to become addicted to the pills. He bravely went cold turkey to get off them.
The book is interwoven with his battle with pain and the pills as well as how he started his businesses and his family.
This book would be enjoyed by someone who.is in business as you would learn quite a lot from him, but, as such a wealthy man he was always able to get more pills from doctors when he needed them unlike the average person who becomes addicted and then is unable to get more and sinks and shatters their lives in pursuit of the drug.
It wasn't what I expected to read but still he has written a book and for that I do admire him!

[Belinda Bunce Naicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was confused by the “bravest book you will read this year” and then even more confused as you read through and think, I read braver things but towards the end I started to realize the bravery is read through Antonio putting himself out there, open cards.
I took a lot from a business perspective, in particularly “the consistency and disciplined “ person he is. Hope that I get to meet Antonio one day

[Tyler Vivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio's story is one filled with struggle and hope. While he became addicted to opiods after and accident, he embarks on a long, often painful journey to break his addiction and find his way back to the man he once was.

It's an insightful read into extensive process of getting off opiods for good.

[Nadene Visser · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s almost impossible to imagine the impact of the oxy-addiction and overcoming it is testament to Antonio’s amazing tenacity and support from his family. The book itself though, is stilted and rather artificial in its writing style. So I’m glad I read the book but wouldn’t have read a sequel if there was one.

[Tshego Mothibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having never heard of the formidable Antonio Iozzo, now that I have finished his book, it feels like he’s a friend I’ve known for ages. Embark on an inspirational journey that is Antonio’s unwavering mindset as he details his personal whirlwind journey of success, recovery and determination.
A very captivating and motivating book that I couldn’t put down. I’m truly left uplifted and inspired.

[Cathrine Van Der Sandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, where do I begin. Mad respect for the man behind Alpha. Such an easy read and such an inspiring recount of the most horrific years of Antonio Iozzo's life.