WINNER OF 2020’s “BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD” BY INDIES TODAY, A FINALIST IN THE 15th ANNUAL NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS & RECIPIENT OF AN INDIE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION“One Hit Away is a gripping, startling account into addiction, compassion and ultimate salvation. It is powerful because of its honesty. Raw without being sensationalistic, this harrowing account of Jordan’s journey provides … journey provides insight and compassion into the struggle of addiction. It is an important, engrossing book that is hard to put down.”
ANNIE GRACE, AUTHOR THIS NAKED MIND: CONTROL ALCOHOL, FIND FREEDOM, DISCOVER HAPPINESS & CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
At the age of 24, Jordan Barnes woke up next to a lifeless body, rifled through his dead friend’s pockets for any remaining heroin and went right back to using.
Strung out and homeless during the supposed best years of his life, there was no clear way out of the Opioid Crisis ravaging the streets of Portland, Oregon. But though Jordan had long accepted his fate, his parents still held out hope, and would do everything in their power to get him the help he so desperately needed.
After a harrowing journey that proves the life of an addict will always get worse, never better, Jordan found himself at the gates of Sand Island, Hawaii’s most notorious two-year inpatient treatment facility. He soon discovers that though his heart was in the right place, the hardest battle of his life was yet to come.
One Hit Away is his arduous and unlikely true story of recovery, rehabilitation and redemption.
“One Hit Away takes you on a journey you won’t forget. An honest expression of such a common and hardcore reality is so necessary. This memoir is a work of art, truth and healing on a level many of us have yet to encounter.”
KAYLEON DORTCH-ELLIOTT, AUTHOR ONE DAY AT A TIME: REMAINING IN STEP
“Raw, brutal and jaw dropping. Jordan Barnes exposes his readers to the depths of hell that is heroin addiction. His transparency brings a level of understanding and empathy to anyone who has ever been touched by addiction.”
KYLIE LEBLANC, ADDICTS RIPPLE
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Indies Today
“Having suffered through too many of Portland’s sunrises in recent years, the art on the horizon has either lost its beauty or I’m too jaded to see in color anymore.” This is just one beautiful example of the eloquent and evocative prose that graces the pages of One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery. Jordan Barnes begins this dramatic memoir at a devastatingly low point in his life; he wakes up to discover that his companion has not survived the night. With a difficult decision to make, Jordan makes one of a series of destructive decisions that fuels his relentless heroin addiction. His story proves to be an anguished journey through the helplessness and hopelessness of addiction to a distant, almost unimaginable place where he finally finds a measure of peace. Hard-hitting and honest, Jordan Barnes gives readers a graphic glimpse into the belly of the beast. Eye-opening in the most heartrending way, Jordan is the consummate storyteller, taking readers through his thought-processes, his daily physical and emotional struggles, impossible choices, and the unexpected complexities unique to a life of addiction. The descriptions are richly vivid and incredibly poignant. Even just the simple act of an embrace from his concerned parents made me feel so much! One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery is a brilliant example of powerful literature that will take willing readers on a walk in a different pair of shoes. If you have a loved one wrestling with addiction, have a lingering addiction yourself, or if you simply want to become a more empathetic and enlightened human, please read this gripping true story by Jordan P. Barnes. This is a difficult yet redeeming story that will stay with you, one you’ll be talking about for years to come.
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It took me awhile (roughly one chapter/day) to read this book — mainly because I really wanted to delve into the details — on a subject that I clearly knew nothing about. There were two main themes, the first on drug addiction, the second on rehabilitation and recovery…
The author gripped me from the beginning, a highly-charged significant emotional event… all the way through to the wrap up, which is a life of continuously monitoring/checking oneself in order to achieve success and long life and happiness.
I was greatly inspired to share this with others to STAY OFF, because you’re ONE HIT AWAY from a dead end to life. With enduring love, may God bless and families support all who read this book.
Jordan has tied the pain, destruction, and hopelessness of active addiction, the struggle, courage, and sacrifice of early recovery, and the hope, love, and joy that blooms out of a successful recovery program all in between the covers of his book.
His story was mesmerizing from page one, and I commend you, Jordan for the courage it took to put your story out there. I haven’t read an entire book in 5 years, but this one I could not put down! As a former client of Sand Island Treatment Center, I can definitely say his recount of the program is SPOT ON! Definitely would recommend for anyone struggling with, has struggled with, or knows someone struggling with addiction. To be able to see not only Jordan’s side of the story, but his loving family’s as well is a real eye opener to how this disease does not only affect the addict! Wonderful read Jordan!
The addiction is real! I think that the main takeaway from this book is that there is no limit to hope and recovery if the support is there. Jordan does a wonderful job detailing the hard work and perseverance needed to turn his life around, and the important role that inpatient treatment can play in our community to rehabilitate drug addicts.
Jordan Barnes’ memoir is beautifully written. It is also a harrowing experience. Having lived with a brother who was severely addicted to drugs for the first 16 years of my life, it was sometimes difficult to read but Barnes masterfully takes the reader through the journey of addiction – its hellish nature, the trap, and the never-ending anxiety and fear-ridden belief that there is no help in sight. It is a story that is honest, raw, and tugs at the heart.
Most importantly, he delivers a story of hope – that even the worst addict, if they want help and persevere one day, one hour at a time, happiness can be found. God bless his parents who stood by his side and believed in him. Kudos to Jordan Barnes for his profound service to others through his beautiful words. If you really want a reality check on the life of an addict, this is the book. It is gripping and will have you thinking about it long after you put it down.
“This book has everything. It’s a true story of hope and redemption, told honestly and with humility. It is genuine, brutal and raw. It brings understanding to how truly hopeless an addict can become. It’s important in that it flies in the face of some of our typical beliefs about addition, and confirms others. Most importantly it tells us there is still hope as long as just one person believes there is. I was thoroughly moved by it.”
One Hit Away shares a powerful journey about addiction that shows with commitment to hard work, one can come out the other side and have a life filled with joy & love.
One Hit Away was intriguing, and informative. I cried and laughed. I was rooting for Jordan the whole way. It was so interesting to journey through his recovery with him. Having family support, lots of prayers, love, and hope saved this man. I highly recommend this book.
One Hit Away: A memoir of recovery has continued to help me stay sober. I quit drinking over 2 years ago after about my third attempt over many years. It’s never easy to stay sober but it’s comforting and inspiring when I’m reminded people like Jordan also struggle with addiction and have made it out and continue their sobriety. This book reminds me everyone has a struggle their going through but as human beings we can overcome these struggles with determination and support. Even if you struggle to find support from someone in your life, One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery can certainly serve as some support and help you stay on the path of sobriety.
I can’t stop listening to this book. Jordan, you have a way with details which makes me feel like i was right there with you; rooting you along from the sidelines. Your story not only made addiction more real, but it has given me strength to put one foot in front of the other, to persevere through my own personal struggles and it has helped me to overcome situations I never thought would be possible to overcome. Keep writing books, Jordan P. Barnes. You have, truly, made a forever fan! I must tell you, listening to this book has become my go-to self-soothing technique, to help combat a fairly rough year. You’re one of a kind and I hope nothing but good comes to you. Continue doing what you’re doing. It’s working! And THANK YOU for fighting the fight and coming out on the other side like a boss!
Incredibly well written! The author painted a vivid picture of what his journey was truly like, minute by Minute. I was amazed how detailed he was considering the stress of going from a drug hazed life through the journey to a Full Recovery! Amazing Job Jordan!!!
One Hit Away was a very personal read for me and an eye opening look into the world of drug addiction and the battles that some of our friends and family face.
A few months ago, I was asked by Jordan Barnes to read this memoir of recovery and provide a short commendation for it. At the time I don’t think I was fully prepared or even understood what I was about to read or the impression it would leave me with.
To be honest, I procrastinated. I put it off several times…but then when I finally started reading it, I had to finish it. The first chapter grabs you and sucks you into a world of what I would call…horror. Not the kind that you see in the movies, but the horror of drug abuse and the seemingly impossible power that drug addiction holds over you. What followed was a long road to recovery and redemption that was traumatic, moving, and so very personal.
What made it personal was that Jordan is the author and the person who went through these struggles. Here’s someone who has personally asked me to read about his struggles and then comment on them afterwards. The connection made it immensely powerful. The ending is poignant and triumphant while still managing to break your heart.
I believe that this book shines a light on what many of the crimes we experience in Stolen Stuff Hawaii are driven by. The reasons our family members and our friends become lost and can’t find their way back. The reason why it is so hard to find the light and so hard to hold onto it.
This book makes me want to fight for more rehabilitation services for those who need it. It makes me want to increase the availability of such services in our jails and prisons. And it also makes it apparent that releasing inmates to a world where these services are not provided is essentially setting them up for fail…something we’re experiencing in vast quantities in today’s coronavirus climate.
Jordan has fought through hell to get to this stage in his life. A former drug addict who has worked so very hard to overcome the demons in his life and is now a local, productive member of society, a soon to be father, and a survivor.
I wish him the best in the release of his book and I’d like to thank Jordan for the opportunity to leave a note in his book as well as the privilege of reading it before release. I wish him great success in its release.
Michael Kitchens, Creator, Stolen Stuff Hawaii
Full disclosure; my name is Jeri Barnes. I am Jordan’s mother.
Jordan’s story was painful in real time and just as difficult when relived the second time through his book. If you are a parent, you don’t need this book to remind you of the unrelenting stress, the embarrassment, shame, disbelief, anger, unbearable grief, sadness and overwhelming feelings that the addict child will bring upon you. You know the anger and sadness of watching an addict spiral out of control to inconceivable lows. You know the unfathomable anguish.
What you don’t know is what the addict is experiencing, what they are thinking, and how the lure of addiction turns into a dark pathway to hell.
Through this book I relived a most painful part of mine and my family’s lives through the eyes of our son. I find forgiveness for whatever imagined role we played or thought we played and take pride in his climb from the depths of hell to salvation. My husband and I are forever grateful for the role God played in bringing him home and for the selfless support and effort by the members of the Sand Island treatment facility in showing him the way to sobriety. This is his story of that climb.
We have a deep faith in God and know that angels played a pivotal role enabling us to find Jordan in his lost world. It was a miraculous journey that brought him home. Jordan has an urgency to share his powerful and truthful story. It is one of sadness and insight into the selfishness, betrayal, cunningness, entitlement and, finally, finding the right path through forgiveness, happiness and unimaginable achievement. It is a story of hope.
This book is raw, and hits home on so many levels, whether you’re addicted to a substance or not. For those of us who are fortunate enough not to have lived through such hardship, we still more than likely have someone in our lives who is either currently suffering through or struggling with addiction.
Jordan, you have so many supportive people who helped make your life story possible. Your mom’s a saint too, I hope you hug her every single day! Thank you for sharing your life with us. It will definitely change some lives.
What a story Jordan has to tell! Amazing to have been through so much to come out the other side and thrive.
We are lucky to have Jordan’s real life story shared with us for a better understanding of addiction and it’s affects on the people we love.
I am proud of Jordan, his story, and the hard work he has done to be where he is at today.
Mahalo for sharing.
The beauty of this memoir is in it’s raw honesty. It takes you to the dark depths of addiction, through the journey to recovery, and then allows the reader to bask in the freedom that comes from breaking the cycle of addiction and leading a life worth living.
I found out about this book from a good friend. What you need to understand is……I don’t read books as I just don’t have the time (it’s probably been 10 years since I have read an entire book). The fact that I read this book within a week speaks volumes about how good it is. There is more to this book than just addiction recovery – it will touch you even if you have not encountered addiction in your life. This is truly an amazing read and I know this book will touch/inspire thousands of people!
As a fellow heroin addict in recovery, this book was honest, raw and realistic. While being dark and gritty, the author never loses his sense of humor. The story follows Jordan through addiction, homelessness, and to recovery (against all odds). The things Jordan go through and horrible and painful but his family never stop believing in him. That is what makes this story overall one of love and HOPE. Addicts do recover and this is proof! I highly recommend to anyone in recovery, still struggling with addiction, or to anyone who loves an addict and wants to gain insight. The book itself is good quality and has an amazing cover! I also enjoyed the audiobook on audible which had the perfect narrator.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One Hit Away is the memoir of an addict and his attempts to leave a life where every act in every day is one of survival – in the author’s words, “to take what we can, when we can, and figure tomorrow out if it comes” never being sure that there is a tomorrow. It begins with a bombshell right off the bat as he wakes up next to the dead body of his friend. One might think it can’t get any worse than that, but to paraphrase one of the chapter titles, rock bottom has a basement.
The story of his life in the drug world and repeated attempts to get out of it is alternately horrifying and heartbreaking. Less than halfway into this, I had cried out loud, and at one point, literally and viscerally had to fight from getting physically sick.
The author in no way glorifies the drug life – this is not a story of disco glitz, club drugs and silver coke spoons. Neither does he sensationalize the low points – there is no need to. This is the low-down dirty of brutal and raw need that never lessens, a need for something whose ultimate goal is to kill, and having to tell yourself that “heaven is out of the picture” in order to justify whatever it takes to fill that need. It’s doing things that have you saying to yourself “I can’t believe what I’ve become”, and suffering while realizing the hurt it’s inflicting on others, knowing that you are better than this – but being helpless to stop. It’s about reaching the point where quitting is literally a life and death decision, and one with a deadline. And even then, it takes a superhero level of fortitude and determination to reach the finish line and to overcome the damage done to himself and others.
The author’s writing is brilliant as he draws you into the story. It’s clear, it’s easy to follow, it moves quickly, and is hard to put down. The writing style, his descriptions of surroundings and the emotions and feelings puts you in scene and inside his head, feeling the sickness along with him, feeling the desperation, and cheering for him to stay with it on those occasions where he teetered on the edge. Reading this was like watching a movie in my head, it was that well-written.
But beyond the story and the writing, there’s more to this. Within the lines of this memoir, there is help. From the author’s note in the beginning of the book where he includes resources for the addict, to the presence of people along the way who tried to help, and how they DID help. His family quite obviously instilled in him values like compassion, integrity, and honesty. That was quite clear throughout the book. His guilt at knowing this, but having to step over those values because of the need for drugs was painful to read. The family went over and above what might be expected; they helped and supported without coddling or giving in to him, they said no when they had to, as much as it pained them. The author recognizes these people, and shows us what works and what doesn’t when dealing with an addict.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone suffering from addiction or going through recovery, and also to their families. Or to anyone who needs a reminder that you CAN overcome if you want it bad enough. I have no doubt that this is going to save some lives.
This Book. Man, was this an emotional read. Thank you, Jordan for being so open and honest and giving details of your life you have never shared before. This could not have been easy, but this book shows how the dedication and support of your parents truly changed your life. I cannot imagine if you would be alive without their love, care, and gentle nudges in the right directions.
I have known Jordan for 4 years and was given an advanced reader copy to review. I can 100% say that the characters that I know are portrayed accurately throughout this book. I knew some of Jordan’s past, but here he lays it all out in the open. While so many people struggle with addiction and so many do not get out of the cycle, Jordan’s journey is truly inspiring.
This book will be hard for anyone with addiction with no support system to read, as that is a strong theme throughout. However, while Jordan had the support of his family to get clean, he made the decision to go to treatment, stay, get clean, and chooses to stay clean every day. I recommend this story to anyone who wants to understand more about addiction, wants a first-hand account of recovery, or who wants to read a story of triumph over an evil hold.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Jordan. I hope you are able to positively impact other addicts, their families, and their friends.
One Hit Away is an amazing window into the body, mind and soul of an addict.
I read this book through an advanced copy of a Kindle edition and it did not disappoint!
It is a very personal account of heroin and cocaine addiction and it details very candidly the physical pain and the emotional struggles of addiction.
It does not sugar coat illicit drug use in any way.
The book also details not only addiction but the physical and psychological struggles of detoxing and the hard work needed to successfully get through a rehabilitation program.
As a parent I could relate to Jordan’s own parents who were both very loving, kind and supportive but had to force themselves to wait until Jordan asked for the help he so desperately needed.
I was able to grasp how truly painful withdraw can be and without medical assistance and a strong support system how devastating the consequences can be.
I found myself laughing at times and crying but always rooting for Jordan to overcome this deadly disease!
One Hit Away is a wonderful debut memoir!