If You Love Me

A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction

By: Maureen Cavanagh

Narrated by: Maureen Cavanagh

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author.

Maureen Cavanagh’s gripping audiobook memoir is the story of a mother who suddenly finds herself on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic as her daughter battles - and ultimately reckons with - substance use disorder.

Fast-paced and heartwarming, devastating and redemptive, Maureen’s incredible odyssey into the opioid crisis - first as a parent, then as an advocate - is ultimately a deeply moving mother-daughter story.

When Maureen and her ex-husband Mike see their daughter Katie’s needle track marks for the first time, it is a complete shock. But, slowly, the drug use explains everything - Katie’s constant exhaustion, erratic moods, and all those spoons that have gone missing from the house. Once Mike and Maureen get Katie into detox, Maureen goes to sleep that night hoping that in 48 hours she’ll have her daughter back. It’s not that simple.

Like the millions of parents and relatives all over the country - some of whom she has helped through her nonprofit organization - Maureen learns that recovery is neither straightforward nor brief. She fights to save Katie’s life, breaking down doors on the seedy side of town with Mike, kidnapping Katie outside a convenience store, and battling the taboo around substance use disorder in her picturesque New England town. Maureen is launched into the shadowy world of overcrowded, for-profit rehabilitation centers that often prey on worried parents.

As Katie runs away from one program after another, never outrunning her pain, Maureen realizes that even while she becomes an expert on getting countless men and women into detox and treatment centers, she remains powerless to save her own daughter. If You Love Me: A Mother's Journey Through Her Daughter's Opioid Addiction brings the opioid crisis out of the shadows and into the house next door.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Maureen Cavanagh (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

very good book

really enjoyed this story, very sad a very heartbreaking and informative . sheds light on this epidemic

Great book!

So good hearing this story from a different perspective. Would recommend to anyone going through, or know someone dealing with addiction.

wow wow wow!

what a powerful listen.
the auther describes her harrowing journey with perfection.
there is nothing worse than seeing you child swallowed up to drugs yet her hope despair wisdom and understanding is written with great clarity.

Not Alone

I chose this book because I have a daughter who has been dealing with substance abuse disorder for 10+ years. As real & painful as it was to listen to the author tell her a story I know so well, I also knew I would find comfort in being able to relate to another mothers pain. This book is well written and honest- which made me feel that someone understood what I was going through as I watched my daughter unravel again & again. I love you forever Ally.

emotional and inspiring

having the author as the narrator really helps with this genre. the emotion is palpable

Riveting, Revealing, and Real

This book is a must for anyone who’s life has been affected by Substance Use Disease. Her story will bring light to the dark journey of this disease. You will experience joy and frustration- cry with her and laugh at the ludicrous reality of all that we have experienced. This opens the conversation and helps to shatter the stigmas; it addresses our lack of knowledge and support in battling this war. I hope this helps with de-criminalizing victims of this disease.

Searingly honest

This story brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. Maureen Cavanagh's brutally honest account of her daughter's opiod addiction opened my eyes to how rampant and destructive this disease is. What an inspiring story and it is told so well!

So Powerful!

Maureen Cavanaugh has expertly revealed the emotional roller coaster ride that a mother of a child who suffers from SUD experiences every day. The story of her journey with her daughter shows the stages of learning what unconditional love truly means. Its the fine line between loving/enabling and loving your child to death. We can't fix it, we can't run from it, we can only accept it and pray that they find the strength to choose recovery and succeed before the knock on the door or that dreaded phone call becomes our reality.
The book had me crying and laughing at times, and found it woven with education and understanding that there us help and hope in coping with this terrible disease. This is a must read for everyone who is, or wants to better understand opioid addiction through the eyes of a parent.

An essential story for parents of addicted children

Maureen’s story is so similar to my story and that of so many of us. We are in a club that no one ever wishes to be in. Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok to have a life, to be happy despite the circumstances and the pain.

I cried, I laughed, beautiful book

This book brought me back to my own desperation with my sons addiction. Listening to the author tell the story was so emotional for me. I would listen as I ran and I didn’t want to stop my run so I could keep listening. Thank you for all you do. You are a talented writer and I hope this isn’t your only book.