Michigan, United States – August 29, 2026 – A deeply personal book giving a voice to those left behind by the opioid crisis

Author and business change expert Phil La Duke releases Loving An Addict: Collateral Damage of the Opioid Epidemic, a powerful and emotional exploration of addiction told through the experiences of the people who suffer the consequences alongside those struggling with substance abuse.

Unlike many books that focus solely on the individual battling addiction, Loving An Addict shines a light on the family members, friends, and loved ones who experience the heartbreak, confusion, grief, and lasting effects caused by opioid addiction and overdose. Through firsthand accounts, La Duke captures the human stories behind a crisis that has affected countless communities.

The inspiration behind the book came from La Duke’s own painful experience after losing his former wife to a heroin overdose. Watching her daughters experience the devastating loss of their mother left a lasting impact on him. For years, La Duke struggled with the idea of writing about what happened, knowing that revisiting the experience meant confronting emotions he had carried for years.

Eventually, he decided that sharing these stories was necessary, not only for healing, but to encourage honest conversations about addiction.

“I wanted people to hear these stories from the people who were victimized by the loss of a loved one, in their own words,” said Phil La Duke. “Too many people remain silent about addiction, and as long as we avoid talking about it, nothing will change.”

Loving An Addict explores the reality that addiction often affects more people than the person using the substance. It reveals the hidden struggles of families who may be living with an addicted loved one without fully understanding what is happening. The book also offers a message of hope for those in recovery, reminding them of the devastating impact relapse can have on the people who care about them.

Through honesty, anger, compassion, and personal reflection, La Duke challenges readers to look beyond stereotypes and recognize addiction as a human issue that leaves behind real people carrying real pain.

Phil La Duke began his writing career as a newspaper reporter and columnist for the Flat Rock Guardian at the age of 20. He later earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Michigan Dearborn and a State of Michigan certificate in Training Design and Development. Although much of his professional career has been spent as a business consultant, writing has remained a lifelong passion.

Throughout his career, La Duke has contributed thousands of articles to publications, magazines, and journals, including work eligible for citation in scholarly and scientific publications. He has been recognized by ISHN Magazine as one of the 101 most influential people working in safety globally and was also named among the top 100 most provocative bloggers.

In addition to Loving An Addict: Collateral Damage of the Opioid Epidemic, La Duke is the author of several other books, including I Know My Shoes Are Untied, Mind Your Own Business (2018), Lone Gunman: Rewriting the Handbook of Workplace Violence Prevention (2019), Blood in My Pockets Is Blood on Your Hands (2021), and Stop. Don’t Shoot! Preparing for and Surviving Mass Shootings and Rampage Attacks (2022).

With Loving An Addict, Phil La Duke hopes to create awareness, encourage conversations, and remind readers that addiction impacts entire families, not just the person struggling with substance use.

For more information about Phil La Duke and his work, visit:

philladuke.wordpress.com

About Phil La Duke

Phil La Duke is an author, columnist, business consultant, and business change expert. With decades of experience in business consulting, writing, workplace culture, and human behavior, La Duke uses storytelling to address difficult social issues and encourage meaningful change.

Global Book Network – Phil La Duke, Author of Loving an Addict

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