"Jenn Lively's "Damaged Spirits" is a captivating, powerful and riveting read that captures the complex world of addiction. It is one of the most exhilerating and compelling books I have read in my 40+year addiction career. Itengulfs the reader in vivid portrayals of the human faces of addiction and the triumphant spirit of recovery. What an incredible resource for patients, families, caregivers, and professionals. It truly will become a beacon of hope for those entangled in the tentacles of addiction."Carmen F. Ambrosino is a 40+year veteran of the addiction field and is currently the CEO of Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc. and CarmenAmbrosino.comDamaged Spirits is a collection of short vignettes that reflect the impact addiction yields to individuals, families, communities and society; and the realization that addiction affects everyone. Addiction does not discriminate and it is a disease of excess. Unlike any other disease addictionscontinue to be stigmatized, scrutinized and negatively judged by society.
Jennifer Lively grew up and went to school in Bergen County New Jersey. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairleigh Dickensen University and moved to rural Northeast Pennsylvania where she had spent summers vacationing with her mother's family. After graduating from college and havinghad an interest in wines and spirits she found success working as a wine and spirits marketing representative. Eventually she became disillusioned with the direction liquor marketing had taken, and having had an "aaah haaa" moment during the tragic days of 9-11, she decided to leave the liquor industry and return to school; making an about face in her career and life work. Insteadof promoting consumption of alcohol she would now promote recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Now focused on a new career, she received her Master's of Education, focusing on addictions, from Penn State University and has worked inthe addictions field ever since. Jenn has been a counselor at several different venues of addiction care and most recently has been the clinical director of a private non-profit outpatient drug and alcohol facility. In addition to her degrees, Jenn has many state and national addictions certifications and is a speaker and lecturer for several continuing education trainings.