SPECIAL PRAISE FOR Acrobaddict
“Joey Putignano tells a harrowing story of a life redeemed at great cost. Try as you follow his words to picture the events—for this is a movie and must be seen to be believed.”
Twyla Tharp
* * *
“You will not read a more candid book this year. Prepare to be frightened and taken to the depths of despair and then lifted up triumphantly. It is never too late to hit the reset button on your life—that is what you are about to learn from Joe Putignano. He is equally adept at taking you through the remarkable journey of his own terrible addiction as he is in the world of acrobatics, descending from the Cirque du Soleil big top as a human mirror ball—the figurative spark of change in humanity.
This raw and emotional tale is a roller coaster through the depths of addiction, tragedy, hard work, and redemption that truly reflects Joe’s spirit and determination to stay clean in a world where he is surrounded by temptation. It is proof that with hard work, anything is possible.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
* * *
“Acrobaddict isn’t just another book about someone who has been to hell and back. Rather, it brings the reader into the emotional world of the addict and the step-by-step process toward an ever-elusive recovery. What I admire about Joe Putignano’s story is the way he drives the reader down the highway of life with exits of temptation along the way. Sometimes you get off on one of those exits, but in the end you find the on-ramp to recovery.”
Mark Lund
Film Producer/Director
* * *
“Joe Putignano’s story of survival and hope against incredible odds is compelling. Understanding what drove him to drugs and, more incredibly, how he has successfully fought and continues to fight his demons, is the ‘cautionary tale’ that must be shared with everyone. I have had the pleasure of photographing Joe on several occasions, and it has always struck me how his stoicism clearly translates into all his images. His has not been an easy path, but, having witnessed his bravery and fortitude of character, it is one that I find inspiring.”
Mike Ruiz
Celebrity Photographer
ACROBADDICT
ACROBADDICT
JOE PUTIGNANO
CENTRAL RECOVERY PRESS
LAS VEGAS
Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics, including original and quality books, audio/visual communications, and web-based new media. Through a diverse selection of titles, we seek to contribute a broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals and their families, and the general public.
For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.
© 2013 by Joe Putignano
All rights reserved. Published 2013.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Publisher: Central Recovery Press
3321 N. Buffalo Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89129
18 17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-1-937612-52-8 (e-book)
Cover photograph by Jamie Cary. Courtesy of MTV. © 2013 Viacom International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the poem To This Day by Shane Koyczan. From the book Our Deathbeds Will Be Thirsty. www.shanekoyczan.com. Used with permission.
Publisher’s Note: This is a memoir, a work based on fact recorded to the best of the author’s memory. To protect their privacy, the names of some of the people, places, and institutions in this book have been changed.
Central Recovery Press books represent the experiences and opinions of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date.
Cover design and interior design and layout by Sara Streifel, Think Creative Design
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER WANTED TO DIE,
WHO HAS GIVEN UP ON THEMSELVES
AND ON THEIR DREAMS.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE STOOD IN
THE MIRROR AND THOUGHT:
I hate myself.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
TOUCHED BY SUFFERING, PAIN,
HEARTBREAK, AND ADDICTION . . .
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword: By Robert Lepage, Creative Director of Cirque du Soleil’s Ka and Totem
