"Look after yourself. Look after each other."
In 1986, Dr. I. Michael Kaufmann asked for help with his addiction to opiates. That life-changing call altered the course of his medical career, ultimately leading him to help thousands of others struggling with the same issues, including doctors, residents, and health professionals and their families. Drugs, Lies & Docs is his story-and so much more.
"You either get help, or bad things happen."
Drawing from a distinguished career that spans decades, Dr. Kaufmann explores addiction and recovery in the twenty-first century. Drugs, Lies & Docs provides a rare glimpse into educating health care workers on how to help each other rise to meet the unique demands of addressing addiction in the medical profession.
In the classroom of Drugs, Lies & Docs you'll gain wisdom and valuable insights while real-life testimonies, including Dr. Kaufmann's personal journey, steep each lesson in authenticity and compassion.
"When we tell our stories, we are not alone. We join-we heal."
Dr. Kaufmann knows stigma and shame kill as surely as a lethal overdose. He also knows firsthand that sharing honest stories about addiction and recovery is the most powerful way to reach those already suffering and help them break through to long-term wellness.
Authentic, compassionate, raw, and real, Drugs, Lies & Docs addresses addiction with dignity. It offers hope. With a commitment to education and a heartfelt call to action, Dr. Kaufmann's memoir champions recovery and the enduring humanity required to sustain it in the high-stakes world of medical practice.
More than a tale of a doctor's recovery from severe substance use disorder, this is a universal story of confronting personal vulnerabilities with courage and honesty. It is also a poignant love story of Michael and Judy, partners through thick and thin. A must-read.
-Michael F. Myers, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and author of Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir
An extraordinary biography that chronicles a physician's journey from addiction and despair to recovery and transformation. Both healthcare professionals and individuals facing life's challenges will find inspiration and hope in this remarkable memoir.
-Mel Borins, MD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and author of A Doctor's Guide to Alternative Medicine
Discover the Power of Recovery: Dr. Michael Kaufmann's memoir exposes the hidden struggles of addiction within the medical profession and provides a raw, insightful look into the lives of those who heal others but must also heal themselves. Having both survived addiction and devoted his career to helping others in similar situations, Dr. Kaufmann's story is both educational and inspiring.
-Dr. Nicholas Pimlott, Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Editor of Canadian Family Physician
As a leader in physician wellness and addiction, Dr. Michael Kaufmann shares his expertise and personal experiences to challenge the stigma, isolation, fear, and shame surrounding addiction in medicine. This story of strength and hope aims to save lives through its compelling narrative and educational impact.
-Caroline Gérin-Lajoie, EVP Physician Wellness and Medical Culture, Canadian Medical Association