Abstract

Addiction is the beginning of recovery.
It is not enough to just stop!
The groundbreaking correspondence between a delinquent patient and a delinquent doctor that caused an uproar among the parties involved, their families, supporters and experts.

The epoch-making correspondence between a delinquent patient and a delinquent doctor has finally been published in book form.

Addiction is the most familiar ‘disease’ to people today - not only to illegal drugs, alcohol and gambling, but also to over-the-counter and prescription drugs, caffeine, games, smartphones, sex, shopping, work and study.

The correspondence between Makoto Yokomichi, a literary researcher who is currently undergoing treatment for alcoholism, the most familiar substance of addiction, and runs numerous self-help groups, and Toshihiko Matsumoto, a psychiatrist specialising in addiction treatment and a nicotine addict who boldly states that he has ‘no intention of ever quitting smoking’, began in a rather straightforward manner. A self-help group starts with just two people, the smallest unit.

The journey to the abyss behind addiction!

Author’s Information

Toshihiko Matsumoto
Born 1967, Kanagawa. Doctor, PhD. Director of the Substance Dependence Research Department, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Saga Medical School in 1993. After working at the Kanagawa Prefectural Psychiatric Centre and the Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Hospital, he has been in his current position since 2015 and has concurrently served as Director of the Centre for Drug Dependence, National Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry Hospital since 2017.
List of publications
Understanding and Assisting Self-Harm.
'Self-harm as Addiction.
Self-harming and Suicidal Children.
Alcohol, Depression and Suicide.
The Hurt You Can't Help Hurting Yourself.
‘If someone says “I want to die”’.
‘Drug Addiction’.
Who are the Doctors for?

Makoto Yokomichi
Associate Professor, Faculty of Letters, Kyoto Prefectural University, born 1979. Born in Osaka. Doctor of Literature (Kyoto University). Specialised in literature and studies of people concerned.
List of publications
Minna mizu no naka - What kind of world do the literary researchers of the ‘developmental disability’ self-help group inhabit?
Yui ga iku! The Struggle for Party Research and Open Dialogue.
Drowning in Blue in Istanbul: The World Circumnavigation of People with Developmental Disabilities
Developmental neighborhood communication: We are living the diversity of disabilities and brains.
The Everyday and Extraordinary Life of a University Teacher: Disability Mode, the Corona Disaster and the Invasion of Ukraine.
‘Not as One: What People with Developmental Disabilities Say about Sex’
You too are a fanatic - A study of co-religionists who approach the world of Religion I and Religion II (Ota Shuppan).