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One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery

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One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery

By: Jordan P. Barnes
Narrated by: Ryan Haugen
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About this listen

Winner of 2020's Best Book of the Year Award, Indies Today, Finalist in 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Award (Addiction and Recovery), and a Recipient of an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion

“One Hit Away is a gripping, startling account into addiction, compassion, and ultimate salvation. It is powerful because of its honesty. Raw without being sensationalistic, this harrowing account of Jordan’s journey provides insight and compassion into the struggle of addiction. It is an important, engrossing book that is hard to put down." (Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life)

At the age of 24, Jordan Barnes woke up next to a lifeless body, rifled through his dead friends’ pockets for any remaining heroin, and went right back to using. Strung out and homeless during the supposed best years of his life, there was no clear way out of the opioid crisis ravaging the streets of Portland, Oregon. But though Jordan had long accepted his fate, his parents still held out hope and would do everything in their power to get him the help he so desperately needed.

After a harrowing journey that proves the life of an addict will always get worse, never better, Jordan found himself at the gates of Sand Island, Hawaii’s most notorious two-year inpatient treatment facility. He soon discovers that though his heart was in the right place, the hardest battle of his life was yet to come.

One Hit Away is his arduous and unlikely true story of recovery, rehabilitation, and redemption.

"One Hit Away takes you on a journey you won't forget. An honest expression of such a common and hardcore reality is so necessary. This memoir is a work of art, truth, and healing on a level many of us have yet to encounter." (Kayleon Dortch-Elliott, author of One Day at a Time: Remaining in Step)

“Raw. Brutal. Jaw-dropping.” (Kylie LeBlanc, addictstripple.com)

©2020 Jordan P. Barnes (P)2024 Jordan P. Barnes Addiction & Recovery Alcoholism Twelve-Step Programs Drug use Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Compassion

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Read the reviews and decided to buy. So glad I did. Read a lot of this genre of book and this was one of the most memorable. Written beautifully. Read with feeling. Massive respect to people who have to go through this finished it very quickly and looked forward to listening each evening.

Brilliant

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Listener received this title free

A heartbreaking true story of a man who went from addiction to rehab and beyond. A story where he could have everything but chose his addiction over this.

Brilliantly written, raw and uplifting.

"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

Raw heartfelt true

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Listener received this title free

One Hit Away is the memoir of an addict and his attempts to leave a life where every act in every day is one of survival – in the author's words, “to take what we can, when we can, and figure tomorrow out if it comes” never being sure that there is a tomorrow. It begins with a bombshell right off the bat as he wakes up next to the dead body of his friend. One might think it can't get any worse than that, but to paraphrase one of the chapter titles, rock bottom has a basement.

The story of his life in the drug world and repeated attempts to get out of it is alternately horrifying and heartbreaking (with occasional moments when I couldn't help but laugh, even in such a serious situation). Less than halfway into this, I had cried out loud, and at one point, literally and viscerally had to fight from getting physically sick.

The author in no way glorifies the drug life – this is not a story of disco glitz, club drugs and silver coke spoons. Neither does he sensationalize the low points – there is no need to. This is the low-down dirty of brutal and raw need that never lessens, a need for something whose ultimate goal is to kill, and having to tell yourself that “heaven is out of the picture” in order to justify whatever it takes to fill that need. It's doing things that have you saying to yourself “I can't believe what I've become”, and suffering while realizing the hurt it's inflicting on others, knowing that you are better than this – but being helpless to stop. It's about reaching the point where quitting is literally a life and death decision, and one with a deadline. And even then, it takes a superhero level of fortitude and determination to reach the finish line and to overcome the damage he's done to himself and others.

The author's writing is brilliant as he draws you into the story. It's clear, it's easy to follow, it moves quickly, and is hard to put down. The writing style, his descriptions of surroundings and the emotions and feelings puts you in scene and inside his head, feeling the sickness along with him, feeling the desperation, and cheering for him to stay with it on those occasions where he teetered on the edge. Reading this was like watching a movie in my head, it was that well-written. The Audible version is also superb. Good choice of a narrator - feeling and emotion emanates. I get chills listening to parts of this, even after having read the written version.

But beyond the story and the writing, there's more to this. Within the lines of this memoir, there is help. From the author's note in the beginning of the book where he includes resources for the addict, to the presence of people along the way who tried to help, and how they DID help. His family quite obviously instilled in him values like compassion, integrity, and honesty. That was quite clear throughout the book. His guilt at knowing this, but having to step over those values because of the need for drugs was painful to read. The family went over and above what might be expected; they helped and supported without coddling or giving in to him, they said no when they had to, as much as it pained them. The author recognizes these people, and shows us what works and what doesn't when dealing with an addict.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone suffering from addiction or going through recovery, and also to their families. Or to anyone who needs a reminder that you CAN overcome if you want it bad enough. I have no doubt that this is going to save some lives.

Highly HIGHLY recommended!

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it was a very touching story from recovery highly recommended feel so much compassion and his mom god bless her is such a hero

very touching 😢

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Listener received this title free

The insight into a life of addiction and its consequences the author gives you is sometimes painful and will have you wince in discomfort, but if you stick it out until the purge like he has, you'll come out of it feeling immensely relieved. All the best to this brave new man!

Listening to J's story might just save your life

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This is a beautifully written memoir. Jordan discribes his experiences with honesty and hope. This is a truly inspiring book and I feel grateful to have heard Jordan's battles and ongoing success. This is definitely a book I will return to again.

Truly amazing.

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Thank you for being my back bone to kicking the habit be Forever Grateful
I am far from free yet but it's out of my system

Thank you

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Same old story! Good boy gone bad and saved by mummy and daddy’s money! Had audible for over 5 years and 95% of my purchases are addiction related. Yet to read one where mummy and daddy and their bank don’t save the soul of the poor person who grew up in a 2.4 children family with every opportunity going offered to them!! But they rebelled! Would they have if they knew that was it! And nobody was going to look for them and help them out of their addiction?Would like to read of a person dragged up and addicted due to growing up in that environment n then coming good without the perfect parents backing them up… good luck to u, ur story was good but ur another entitled little boy who pushed away from all the good given to him on a plate and regretted it and then surprise saved by mummy and daddy’s money…. Just in time!..Boo boo

Same old story. Poor little entitled boy goes bad and rebels then Saved by mummy n daddy’s money…yawn!!

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I chose this book as I too struggle with addiction, not on this level but enough to realise that I have a problem that I do not want to get any worse. Hearing how Jordan felt through both his highs and his lows, the unwavering commitment his amazing parents showed towards his recovery and his ability to overcome his addiction was quite a journey of both pain and resilience. His father gave him a tough talking to when he was ready to throw the towel in, one that gave me hope. His words of wisdom was like a golden key towards unlocking his motivation. One, if you read this book, may help you too.

Such a raw account of the life of an addict

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Listened to all 10 hours in 2 days. If anyone is struggling with addiction then this is the book for you. It proves anyone can change

Inspiration

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