Saving Lily: Lessons from Building the Largest Addiction Treatment Center in Sin City During the Opioid Epidemic

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.