Climbing Up the Downward Spiral takes a holistic approach in looking at practical, neurological, and spiritual issues, as it walks readers through the shadows of some of the most difficult problems of our time: financial loss; drug and alcohol abuse and addiction; mental illness; and suicide.The authors also share from their considerable personal experience with these problems. Bringing together some twenty years of work with people in programs of downtown, late-night ministry in different cities as well as personal experiences with illegal drugs, bipolar disorder, and a serious suicide attempt, Jones and Joseph walk readers through the shadows of our lives, offering encouragement, methods of coping, and above all, hope.

Dean Jones has held academic positions at Seattle Pacific University, the University of Utah, Indiana/Purdue University at Indianapolis, Bowman Gray School of Medicine and the University of Washington, School of Nursing. He is the author of Face to Face with Society's Lepers: Downtown Night Ministry, The Other Chamber: A Portrait of the Mentally Ill Offender, and A New Light: The Ecumenical Catholic Communion.

Michael Joseph is a Doctor of Pharmacy. He is employed as a community pharmacist by a major retailer and has completed a course of study in addiction studies.