In his nonfiction debut, the author, a psychologist and educator, discusses the vital importance of what he calls an “impact person” in substance abuse recovery—the term refers to involved individuals “with the ability to help, assist, or change someone’s life for the better.” Licuanan clarifies that there are limits to what such people can do; the author stresses the importance of drawing a clear “We are done” line in the sand, setting a boundary past which “you are simply finished supporting their unhealthy lifestyle.” Licuanan’s overview encompasses both mental health disorders (including schizophrenia and PTSD) and substance abuse disorders (involving alcohol, methamphetamine, and other drugs) and draws on his experience dealing with such clients and the people in their lives. Rather than providing specific intervention techniques for any of these situations, he offers a more general set of tools, including active listening, empathy, and the setting of healthy boundaries, all designed to help families and other impact people in what the author refers to as “the Pre-treatment Zone,” in which people are desperate to get their loved ones into some kind of treatment. (“The support system in the Pre-treatment Zone is experiencing intense fear, anxiety, loss, confusion, and desperation. They may believe their loved one is no longer able to care for their basic needs adequately and might be in danger of harming self or others.”) Licuanan breaks down all of his advice very clearly into a great many practical necessities, with key tasks in the process delegated to the “captain” and the “co-captain” of the assistance team, along with the whole coalition of assisting individuals. (These tasks can involve preparing back-up plans and contingencies in case law enforcement has to be involved.) People in these helping coalitions will find Licuanan’s combination of optimism and pragmatism invaluable; this book is full of very useful wisdom.