The Urge dives into the development of addiction treatment throughout human history, examining the beginnings of diagnoses, the consequences of our punitive system, and humane recovery paths.

Addiction has plagued humanity since its beginnings, yet we are far from developing a cure, or even agreeing on its causes.

Published in 2022, The Urge was written by Carl Erik Fisher, a recovered alcoholic turned addiction physician and bioethicist.

After years of struggling with his own addiction, Fisher sought to understand why addiction treatment is so often unsuccessful, and how we can still be in disagreement on the best course of action.

Over the ten years he spent researching and writing the book, Fisher uncovered a complex web of social, racial, and ideological factors that feed into the chaos of addiction and our attitudes towards it.

By coupling a historical approach to patterns of addiction and prevention with his own journey, Fisher delves into stubborn misconceptions and suggests ways to undo them.