After surviving nearly a decade of heroin abuse and hard living on the streets of San Francisco's Tenderloin District, Tracey Helton Mitchell decided to get clean for good. With raw honesty and a poignant perspective on life that only comes from starting at rock bottom, The Big Fix tells her story of transformation from homeless heroin addict to stable mother of three,and the hard work and hard lessons that got her there. Rather than dwelling on the pain of addiction, Tracey focuses on her journey of recovery and rebuilding her life, while exposing the failings of the American rehab system and laying out a path for change. Starting with the first step in her recovery, Tracey re-learns how to interact with men, build new friendships, handle money, and rekindle her relationship with her mother, all while staying sober, sharp, and dedicated to her future. A decidedly female story of addiction, The Big Fix describes the unique challenges faced by women caught in the grip of substance abuse, such as the toxic connection between drug addition and prostitution. Tracey's story of hope, hard work, and rehabilitation will inspire anyone who has been affected by substance abuse while offering hope for a better future.

About the Author
Tracey Helton Mitchell is a recovering heroin addict. After completing rehab in 1998, she dedicated her life to the care and treatment of heroin users. Tracey entered school through an ex-offender's program where she earned a bachelors of business administration and masters of public administration. In addition, she is a certified addiction specialist and supervisor. She was featured in the movie Black Tar Heroin: The Dark End of the Street. She has also been featured by CNN, Anderson Cooper, Vice, the Huffington Post, and the New York Times. Tracey lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children.

Reviews
"Tracey Helton went from street junkie, hooking for heroin, to wife, mother of three and PTA treasurer--a tale of one woman's rise out of despair and enslavement to find self-reliance, joy and hope. As we face repairing the wreckage caused by our nationwide opiate scourge, her story is one so many Americans now need to hear." --Sam Quinones, journalist and author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic "Heroin is a journey into darkness. Tracey Helton Mitchell tells the vivid and inspiring story of how she found her way to sunlight... Tracey is a remarkable individual who's written a vivid, honest and moving book about addiction, courage and hope." --Steven Okazaki, Academy Award-winning filmmaker: Black Tar Heroin and Heroin: Cape Cod, USA



Book Information
ISBN 9781580056038
Author Tracey Mitchell
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Seal Press
Publisher Seal Press
Weight(grams) 470g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 156mm * 25mm