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.

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.