Heroin's Puppet

Amy Caruso was a junior in the nursing program at Boston College and seemed to have everything going for her—brains, beauty, athleticism, career goals, a loving family, and many wonderful friends. But in November 2009, she admitted she was a heroin addict and voluntarily entered treatment. Five weeks later she died from an overdose at the treatment facility on the day after Christmas, weeks shy of her twenty-first birthday.

"Melissa Weiksnar's detailed and bravely honest account of the years leading up to her daughter's tragic death brings true insight into the challenges and angst of parenting a child suffering from addiction. Amy's words and spirit can be felt through her journal entries and allow readers to immerse themselves within the mind of a person struggling to get sober. This story is ammunition towards fighting the stereotype of the 'typical' addict and is evidence that neither a loving family, education nor socioeconomic status can save a person from the powerful grip of addiction. May this book help others to find meaning in their losses and increase awareness about the most effective ways to support a loved one with an addiction." — Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC, therapist and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic.