Zine Reviews: "On Subbing: The First Four Years" and "​Why Do I Get High? A Drunk Punk Guide To Relapse Prevention Without Gods Or Masters"

Reviews by A. Iwasa

Reviews for two deeply insightful zines - one of which on substitue teaching, and another on the biopsychosocial model for relapse prevention. 

"​On Subbing: The First Four Years" 

By: Dave Roche
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Somehow this 'zine or 'zinester landed on my radar, and I remember thinking Roche seemed interesting, but since I've never been a teacher outside of my weaving workshops, I probably wouldn't get anything out of his 'zine.

I couldn't have been more wrong! Roche's writing is both funny and insightful. I also think his improvement in writing from the first to the second year is stark.

The first year's journal-style entries are full of great one-liners like, "It's funny how I still feel uncomfortable in high school gyms, especially during square dancing." Punchy points still land on pretty much every page about the next three years, but more in the style of Sarah Royal, they're like heavy leads drawing you into a great story, climaxes, or punchlines.

Fantastic storytelling that spares few details, frustration and fulfillment from some of the most important and least appreciated work possible.

Honorable mentions of other vocational ‘zines/ters: Xtra Tuf by Moe Bowstern and Dishwasher by Pete Jordan, AKA Dishwasher Pete.

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Photos courtesy of Microcosm Publishing

https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/1010

​"Why Do I Get High?  A Drunk Punk Guide To Relapse Prevention Without Gods Or Masters" 

By: Tim Spock

Based mostly on the Biopsychosocial model (BPS) of disease treatment introduced in the 1970s by the Psychologist George Engel, this is the fourth 'zine by Spock in Microcosm Publishing's Prison to Pamphlet series. BPS rejects the idea that there's only one path to recovery, including that BPS itself might not work for you.

Since Spock and I started corresponding, I've lost three friends to drug overdoses, and another committed suicide which was how I found out she was using.  'Zines like this are an important part of how we can try to move forward as a society. Spock delves deeply into Disease Theory and the biology of addiction, psychology, and the social aspects of both substance abuse and sobriety. Like 'zines in general, it isn't comprehensive, but a great place to start if you're thinking about sobriety, or trying to support someone with substance abuse issues.

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Drunk Punk Recovery contact:
Tim Spock 633757
2500 S. Avon-Belden Rd.
Grafton, OH 44044
IG @drunkpunkrecovery
[email protected]
Getting Out Mobile, 633757  

https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/47280