I’m Craig Jackson, author of Beyond the Lies. I’ve been in recovery for more than 11 years, and during that time I’ve worked with many addicts, alcoholics, and their families as they navigate the recovery process.

I grew up in generational addiction. My grandfather was an alcoholic who never found sobriety. My father was an alcoholic who got sober when I was fourteen. My oldest brother struggled with addiction for decades and is now in recovery.

In short, I am the grandson, son, and brother of addict-alcoholics. The surprising part is that my experiences growing up weren’t enough to stop me from becoming an addict-alcoholic myself. Addiction runs deep in my family.

In 2014, I was fortunate enough to get sober. Through doing the hard work of recovery, I came to understand how challenging it is to live with an addict-alcoholic. I’ve reflected deeply on the ways my own addiction affected the people I love, as well as on what I witnessed throughout my childhood.

Through that reflection, I felt compelled to give something back. That’s why I wrote this book. I pull back the curtain on the addict-alcoholic’s inner world and explain why we behave the way we do. My hope is to help you better understand your own thoughts and feelings as someone who has lived with an addicted loved one—and to support you as you begin your own recovery.