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The Ultimate Family Recovery Story

Doctor Al Mooney, a specialist in Addictive Medicine and his mother Dot Mooney. Doctor Mooney is the author of The Recovery Book, a guide to drug and alcohol recovery, and runs the Willingway Hospital, a drug and alcohol rehabiltation center in Statesboro Georgia. Doctor Mooney knows about addiction first hand. His late father, who was also a doctor, became addicted to drugs and alcohol -- and so did his mother. When the parents kicked their habits, they turned their house into a rehabilitation center for other addicts. Surrounded by recovering drug and alcohol, Mooney's three siblings also became addicts. Al Mooney was the only member of his family to maintain sobriety.

28:58
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Other segments from the episode on December 21, 1992

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, December 21, 1992: Interview with Al Mooney and Dot Mooney; Interview with Gilbert Gottfried; Review of Michael Bedard's book "Emily" and the anthology "The Open Door."
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15:45

Stand-Up Comic and Actor Gilbert Gottfried

In the new animated movie Aladdin, Gottfried plays an evil parrot. His stand-up style can best be described as "cranky," with a high-decibel delivery. He's also done a stint on Saturday Night Live and was in the movie Beverly Hills Cop II.

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03:45

Two Literary Gifts for the Christmas Season

Critic Maureen Corrigan recommends two books that you might want to give as holiday presents. First, a children's book called Emily, by Michael Bedard, about a young girl who meets Emily Dickinson. Second: The Open Door, a new paperback collection of writers writing about what made them love to read books when they were young.

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A Father Tells The Story Of His Son's Struggle To Stay 'Clean'

"The view that drug use is a moral choice is pervasive, pernicious and wrong," writes David Sheff in Clean, a critical look at the nation's approach to drug treatment. Shelf argues that we should not wait for "rock bottom" -- that addiction should be treated promptly, just like any other disease.

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Band Manager Tim Collins Intervenes to Stop Rock Star Addiction

Collins has managed the band Aerosmith since 1984. A former addict and in his early days with the group, he often procured drugs for the band. He later helped the members get sober and revitalize their careers. Collins believes band managers and record executives need to work with musicians to overcome the systemic use and abuse of drugs. He works in Cambridge, MA as the founder and president of Collins Management.

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