Saving Lily - by David Marlon & Jessica Kantor (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A raw and urgent memoir-meets-manual that exposes the brutal realities of addiction and mental illness, told through the intertwined journeys of a man in recovery from addiction and a young woman with mental illness that he fights to save.

Saving Lily is a gripping, true journey into the heart of addiction and recovery in the shadow of the opioid epidemic. Set in Sin City Las Vegas, this powerful narrative follows two intertwined lives: Dr. Dave Marlon, a former addict turned recovery professional, and Lily, a creative but tormented woman battling not only substance use disorder but severe mental illness.

Through harrowing personal accounts, clinical insight, and moments of hard-won hope, Saving Lily lays bare the complexities of addiction, the failures of our healthcare and justice systems, and the essential truth that no two paths to recovery are alike. More than a memoir, this book is a vital resource--part intervention guide, part love letter--to those still struggling, and a rallying cry for compassionate, individualized care.

Whether you're a loved one, a treatment provider, or someone on the recovery journey yourself, Saving Lily offers a deeper understanding of addiction as a chronic illness, the ways to treat it, and the resilient humanity of those who live it every day.

Review Quotes

"Saving Lily is a powerful, unflinching, and deeply compassionate guide to understanding and treating the deadly brain disease of addiction. Dr. Dave Marlon weaves his own harrowing journey with the story of Lily. A woman whose battle with co-occurring disorders and homelessness lays bare the urgency of integrated, dignified, and person-centered care. What results is more than a book, it is a manual, a mirror, and a mission. Both clinically sound and emotionally searing, this work belongs in the hands of every mental health professional, faith leader, and advocate committed to healing our most wounded neighbors. As a clinician, priest, and someone who shares in Dr. Marlon's mission through our work at Vegas Stronger and beyond, I can attest to the wisdom, clarity, and heart this book offers. Dave has not only written a blueprint for recovery, he's modeled a life of purpose, transformation, and service. Saving Lily is a gift to the field, to the community, and to the soul. It reminds us that no one is too far gone, and that healing is not only possible, it's holy."

"A groundbreaking contribution to addiction literature, Saving Lily merges raw memoir with clinical expertise to redefine crisis narratives. Marlon and Kantor deliver electrifying urgency through two powerful perspectives: a clinician's transformative journey and a resilient woman's decades-long battle against co-occurring disorders. Their visionary analysis of systemic healthcare failures and advocacy for integrated recovery models charts essential pathways through our opioid crisis. This definitive work stands as an indispensable compass for policymakers, clinicians, and communities seeking transformative solutions."

"Real talk from the front lines: Kantor and Marlon take on addiction and co-occurring disorders with empathy, rigor, and years of fieldwork. They trace the human toll and map the systemic repairs we actually need, and how they work in the real-world, not just in theory. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to bridge the gap between idealism and realism when it comes to addiction and recovery."--

"This book was a hard read and an easy read. Hard because it covers the truth about how the disease of addiction works and what it will take to provide treatment to all. Easy because Marlon and Kantor weave together gripping true experiences with an academic understanding of the disease and treatment, making it an interesting read for both expert and layman."

"This is more than a recovery story--it's a reckoning with the systems that fail so many. Saving Lily is raw, rigorous, and relentlessly human. Dr. David Marlon doesn't just tell the story of recovery--he shows us what it costs, what it demands, and what it means to fight for someone else's life as if it were your own. Through lived experience, clinical clarity, and real-world practice, he offers a clear view of what effective, person-centered care can look like--and what must shift across systems to make it sustainable, accessible, and real. I recognize the truth in these pages--it's both a testimony and a blueprint. This unflinching narrative doesn't just critique what's broken--it calls us to build life bridges rooted in respect, compassion, and dignity. Saving Lily pressed on my heart and my calling. Every chapter demanded attention--from both the advocate and the human in me.

"Well done. Easy to read and the truth about addiction."

About the Author

David Marlon, PsyD, LADC-S, CPC, is a nationally recognized interventionist, addictionologist, and CEO of Vegas Stronger, a nonprofit addressing homelessness by treating substance abuse and mental illness. He previously founded one of the country's most successful addiction recovery centers in Southern Nevada after overcoming his own addiction. Dave serves as president of the Southern Nevada Association of Addiction Professionals and received the 2018 National Advocacy Award from NAADAC. He founded CARE Coalition and Solutions Foundation and helped establish Mission High School, the nation's first public recovery high school. He served on the governor's Substance Abuse Working Group and appears in A&E's Intervention. Dave holds a Doctorate in Psychology from Walden University, a Master's in Counseling and MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor's in Economics from the State University of New York. He lives in Las Vegas with Marine Corps veteran Carolina Marlon, and their two sons.

Jessica Kantor is an independent journalist specializing in health, human rights, and social impact. Her work can be found in Fast Company, Healthcare Quarterly, Innately Science, and others. She has been a Solutions Insights Lab interviewer since 2023. Additionally, she provides communications strategy and writing for nonprofits and INGOs who are working on the Sustainable Development Goals. She is a living kidney donor based in Los Angeles.