One-Way Ticket

In 1970, at age thirteen, Josh Lowenthal used heroin for the first time. It would begin an addiction he would have for his whole short life. In this memoir, Rita Lowenthal retraces her son's life to try to make sense of what happened—from Josh's rehab programs and life on the streets to his petty crimes and jail terms. She shows with painful detail warmth and humor how the lives of family members and friends were permanently altered, and she offers new insights into the limits of control and the responsibility the survivors are made to feel. This book provides hope and strength to anyone struggling with a loved one battle with addiction.