Painkiller Addict (Kemp)

Pain Killer Addict: From Wreckage to Redemption
Cathryn Kemp, 2012
Little, Brown UK
300 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780749958060


Summary
Cathryn Kemp was a successful travel journalist who fell ill with a life-threatening illness. After four years of painful operations and misdiagnoses she was discharged from hospital with a repeat prescription for fentanyl, a painkiller one hundred times stronger than heroin.

Within two years she was taking more than ten times the NHS maximum dosage, all on prescription.

Painkiller Addict: From Wreckage To Redemption is a story of our times; each year more and more prescriptions are written for strong painkillers, sleeping tablets, anti-depressants and tranquillisers. In this extraordinary poignant, vivid and honest memoir, Cathryn describes her horrifying descent into addiction and her fight for freedom from the medication which saved her life—then almost destroyed it.

It is a love story, a horror story and one of the bravest survival stories you will ever read. (From the publisher.)

Author Bio
• Birth—1971
• Where—Surrey, UK
• Education—B.A., European Fine Art; M.A., National Council for
   Training of Journalists
• Awards—The Big Red Read Non Fiction Award;
   Nominated, Samuel Johnson Prize; Peter
   Wilson Award for Journalism
• Currently—lives on the Suffolk coast, UK


Cathryn Kemp is an award-winning journalist and writer. Painkiller Addict: From Wreckage To Redemption recently won The Big Red Read Non Fiction Award 2013 and was nominated for the prestigious Samuel Johnson Prize 2012.

Cathryn worked for The News of the World, The Mirror and The Sunday People before falling ill overnight in 2004. She has written and co-written several Lonely Planet guides including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Romania and Moldova and Eastern Europe. (From the publisher.)

Book Reviews
Seeringly honest and courageous, an absolutely brilliantly written book about the descent into painkiller addiction that can so easily occur when someone is dealing with unbearable physical and emotional pain. A brave, heartfelt and extraordinary book.
Corinne Sweet - Author, psychologist and broadcaster


Frankly written, Kemp's courageous memoir will help those dealing with an addict, or with addiction itself.
Big Issue (North)


A brilliantly written book.... It's not only an inspirational addiction recovery story but also a deeply moving book about recovering from loss on many levels—health, love, independence, career, dignity, trust, optimism.... Cathryn's story gripped me at gut level from page one.
Gael Lindenfield - Author and Self-Help Expert


Looking at the cover, you might think Painkiller Addict is a self-help book for recovering addicts (and I've no doubt that Cathryn Kemp's insights and inspirational story are a beacon of hope for many), but I don't think that's what it is. It's a brilliantly well written memoir. Reading the book is like reading any great story: it's not just an account, it's an experience. Surprisingly, it's not harrowing to read. The journalistic pace of Kemp's writing draws you into the story and keeps you reading - it's fascinating and impossible to put down. I read the sample and loved it. I'm so pleased I bought the whole book, it's a great read!
SL Bradbury


Brilliant book. I've only got about a quarter of the way through but I'm really enjoying it. It's well written and, so far, I can relate to everything she says.
Emma-Jane Robinson


Amazing story of bravery and determination. Couldn't put this book down. Honest and inspiring, well done to cathryn kemp! Amazing.
Michelle Haiming


A very open account of a successful young woman's decent into the physical, psychological and social torture which is addiction. Whether the drug of choice is alcohol, painkillers or any other number of substances or behaviours, the patterns are all strikingly similar. The thing that struck me hard in this book is the shame, guilt and deceit that encircles the addict and is fed by the spiral of need... A great account which left me close to tears at the end. Cathryn obviously realises the delicacy of life and lives each day accordingly. Thank you Cathryn, and good luck for your future.
Marc (UK)

Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the relationship between Cathryn and her GP—was he negligent in prescribing more and more of Cathryn's medication or should Cathryn be held as accountable?

2. Describe the dynamics of the family relationships around Cathryn and how the illness affects her mother Sue and father Albert.

3. Was Cathryn's boyfriend Adrian wrong to leave her during her illness and did his decision to go precipitate the spiral into addiction?

4. Describe the point at which Cathryn moved from pain relief dependency into addiction.

5. Was Cathryn wrong to lie about her growing need for the painkillers to her family and friends?

6. At what point should Cathryn's GP have stopped her medication, was he quick enough to act?

7. Discuss how society sees drug addicts.

8. What was Cathryn's rock bottom moment in her addiction?

9. Describe Cathryn's relationship to the fentanyl lozenges—were they more than pain relief?

10. Should Cathryn have received funding from the NHS for her rehab or is it right she had to fend for herself?

11. How important was Cathryn's family to her going into recovery?

12. How culpable was the hospital which prescribed the fentanyl lozenges for Cathryn in the first place?

13. Describe the conflict between Cathryn's willingness to get off the drugs and her desperation to stay on them.

14. What was the attraction by Cameron for Cathryn, why did he want to have a relationship with her in light of her illness and addiction?

15. Discuss how Cathryn's inability to have children affected her throughout the book.

16. How does the arrival of Cameron's son, Cathryn's stepson, affect Cathryn's recovery?

17. Can you relate to any of the addiction issues raised by the book?

18. Can you relate to the illness suffered by cathryn or pain issues raised by the book?

19. What are your feelings towards Cathryn and her journey by the end of the book?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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