Women of Substances is a ferociously honest memoir from journalist (and ex-Time Out Melbourne editor) Jenny Valentish. Out this June, the book tracks the female experience of drugs and alcohol, with Valentish using her own story as a launchpad.
As a precursor to the memoir, Valentish travelled around the country to treatment facilities and AA groups to gain insight into the early predictors of addiction, from childhood trauma to teenage impulsivity. The book is packed with facts and neuroscientific evidence that links other self-destructive behaviours with problematic substance abuse, and within the context of Valentish’s own life, we’re given an insightful and honest portrayal of addiction and coming out the other end of it.
See Valentish in conversation with author Lollie Barr at Better Read Than Dead bookstore on Wednesday June 7, and stick around to nab your own signed copy of Women of Substances.