New Years Revolutions!

That's right, Revolutions.

Not a Typo.

2011 is the year when pursuit of maintaining the status quo faded into oblivion because the status just ain't so quo anymore. Treading water is not enough.

We're sinking. We've spent way too much time and energy "accepting the things we cannot change" and not nearly enough showing "the courage to change the things we can." The climate for recovery from addiction in our society sucks. Despite state-of-the-art research yielding incredible results, damn little of it finds its way into actual treatment.

And when it does, it's not the best and the brightest, it's the quickest and the cheapest.

Unless, of course, you have an extra $25,000-$100,000 laying around to pay for one of the "Rolls-Royce" programs where they actually utilize the latest research in their treatment techniques. If you have public insurance, the story is different. You barely see a counselor and you're lucky if your roommate isn't dealing Oxycontin.

And there is only one reason why. Because we allow it to be.

How many people in this country are in recovery right now? Recovering addicts? Alcoholics? Family members? Gamblers? Etc., etc.? Who knows, it's a tough statistic to ascertain. When many people recover in fellowships that stress anonymity as a spiritual foundation, it's safe to say that a statistical researcher is going to be about as welcome as a census-taker at some Red-State outpost of the local militia.

Add to this the real danger for many people of arrest or incarceration if they admit to a drug history, due to our outrageously primitive narcotics laws, and guess what?

You aren't going to come away with any numbers except the ones that identify the individuals most spectacularly unsuccessful at recovery.

So, call for Revolution number one is for recovering people to begin to recognize that if things are going to get any better for the many, many, recovering people in our society, as well as those struggling with addictions, it's up to us to make it to.

We need to start a revolution in how we are defined, identified, treated and regarded by the rest of our society.

And then we demand a place at the table.

Happy New Year!

Pajama Life

Oh sure, the holidays are great. But not as great as taking the week off between Christmas and New Years. You get to laze around, eat, watch movies, eat, ruminate over the past year and meditate on the new year ahead. 

And eat.

Did I mention that?

Some people like to make resolutions. I don't. I feel guilty when I break them, and I always do.

I used to make a resolution to quit drinking. I made it every year. Never did, though.

I wonder what would have happened if I had made a resolution to drink more?

Anyways....My plan for the next few days is to share some of my thoughts on the year past and the year to come.

Let me hear yours.

Too Important To Fail

The kid with the black eye showed up for group, as usual. He had tried to pour his dad's bottle of liquor down the kitchen sink drain. Dad had caught him in the act.

Dad wasn't happy, hence the black eye.

This wasn't the first time, but hopefully it would be the last.

My experience working with children from families with histories of addiction and alcoholism, has been frustrating, illuminating and sometimes terrifying. It has also been rewarding, beyond anything I could have imagined.

Each week, somewhere between six and ten young teenagers meet with myself and co-facilitator Lacey Chandra Macauley to share their experience of living in in a family dominated by the disease of of addiction.

There are sad stories, angry stories, frightening stories and sometime bizarrely funny stories.

There are tears, sorrows, joys and fears--some shared for the first time--in an environment that puts the lie to the addictive message "don't tell anyone." Here, it is safe to tell.

The group was originally funded by a small grant, but in this economy, grants have become scarce. The funding ended years ago, but the group does not. It continues to run during the school months, at no charge.

I believe that it is too important to let it fail simply because money has dried up. Miracle of miracles, this year some funding came through the Delaware County Office of Behavioral Health, (Division of Drug & Alcohol) that has allowed Lacey to come to this group and be the valuable asset that she has been to other groups in Delaware County. She is a most welcome addition.

So, we begin another year of Children from Addicted Families Group. There will be sad stories, but there will also be warmth and tolerance and support. There will be scary stories, but there will also be reassurance and hope. There will be black eyes, but also some help for them to heal.

Please support us.

If you have a young teenager you feel would benefit from this group, please contact us:

Ken Williams  484 431 2931   kenwilliamscac@gmail.com

Lacey Chandra Macauley   484 444 0412   lmacaule@holcombbhs.org

Excuse me, I've got a couple of questions.

There's another Republican debate tonight. If I was there representing the Recovery Community, here's the questions I'd want to ask. Any serious candidate for President should have some plans or ideas to address a national health crisis.

Do you believe addiction is an illness? Or do you believe it's sin, or a sign of a weak character?

Do you believe that treatment for substance use disorders really works?

What is your own experience with addiction? Have you used mood changing substances? Do you still? If you stopped, how did you do it?

Do you have an addicted family member?

Would you end the so-called War on Drugs?

Would you present a bill changing the legal status of marijuana to Congress?

What policies would you enact to deal with the rising number of fatalities caused by prescription medication?

Those are some of mine. What are your questions?

You're Kidding, Right?

So, I did the August lament blog and voiced a muted optimism for September, and promptly wound up in the hospital.

God has a weird sense of humor. Subtle like a mule.

My pooch, Serenity, has a simple sense of acceptance.

I can look at the obvious and read not a thing from it.

She can look at a hurricane lamp during a storm and see.......

I wish I knew.

August sucked.

There's no other way to describe it.

Poor Amy Winehouse's death seemed like some screwed-up harbinger of death and dysfunction, and boy, oh boy, did it ever deliver. The whole month was like a high speed ride down some axle-breaking washboard dirt road, with the rising waters behind and the dark of the moon ahead.

Anxiety became the new normal.

The earthquake and the hurricane, I think everyone knows about them. Power was out for days; for some, it was out for weeks.

The other incidents, far too private to discuss here, were just as devastating. No, they were more devastating. The power outage left in their passing couldn't be reactivated by moving a tree limb and pulling a switch, it was permanent.

I am grateful that the lousy month of August has passed. Here's to new beginnings in September.

Amy Winehouse : 14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011

If you can think of something clever, or deep, or profound to say that explains this, please post it it. I've got nothing. 

For Amy Winehouse, and all the unknown amys that disappear into addiction each year, and all of their families, my heart and prayers go out to you.

Peace.

Hate to say it (well, not really!) but looks like I scooped the NY Times.

The New York Times reporting on the Bath Salts story. Grateful for the coverage, but gotta say, The Interventionist had the story first!

What's next? Celebrity Intervention?

Sure I hated shows like Celebrity Rehab and Intervention! 

What moral and right-minded elder statesman of the Recovery Movement wouldn't? Crude, exploitative, unethical, profit-motivated manifestations of the worst of Schlock TV that they were! I decried them as morbid and voyeuristic, as they depicted addicts and alcoholics at their worst; the perpetuated the stereotype of the addict as the composite of society's phobias and ills.

And also, eminently watchable.

I look back on some of the criticisms I voiced a few years ago and find the little voice inside saying, "lighten up, will you? It's only tv."

And maybe the little voice is right. 

Getting Clean & Sober With Betty

My 'Clean Date' as they say in some 12 Step Fellowships, is Memorial Day 1977. Betty Ford went into the Long Beach Naval Hospital following a family intervention sometime in 1978.

We never met each other, but in a sense, we got sober together. While I may have had a few months on Betty, in terms of time, it's safe to say that she definitely had me beat flat in terms of accomplishment!

Before Betty went public with her addiction and recovery, there was very little said about the subject in the media, and what was said was much more likely to be negative, than not. Alcoholism was portrayed as comical or tragic; drug addicts were social degenerates. Recovery was unknown territory, and very few Americans had the least idea how it worked. There were a small handful of individuals who had gone public with their recovery, but they were generally considered a freak show--Hollywood people, show biz types. Certainly not a First Lady, wife of the President of the United States.

And a good Republican, as well!

Betty turned on the lights, opened the closet door, and coaxed addiction and alcoholism out of the closet. She identified the elephant in the living room, pointed out that the Emperor's New Clothes were seriously lacking in taste, and above all, made it safe for thousands of middle-class people to talk about their problems and okay for them to seek help.

And she did it clean and sober and with style, grace and her trademark candor. 

So, RIP to my fellow 70's graduate from the school of hard knocks, or as the old-timers used to say, 'John Barleycorn University'. I am grateful to have gotten sober during the 'Betty Ford Era'.

I would have voted for you for President.

New Synthetic Marijuana Arrives to Replace Spice, K2 | The Fix

A bunch of states restrict or ban a product that gets people high; its manufacturers make a few changes in the compound, and a new substance is created, perfectly legal.

Maybe it's time to get away from Prohibition era 'war on drugs' thinking, and look instead at what we need to due to help cure our addiction prone society!

New Synthetic Marijuana Arrives to Replace Spice, K2 | The Fix

Of Salts And Spice--More on Synthetic 'Legal Highs'

Earlier this week, I wrote about the so-called Legal Highs: bath salts and aromatic potpourris, clearly marked "Not For Human Consumption" but marketed with a wink and nudge to informed stoners who want to beat criminal charges and urine tests. They will get you high, mimicking the effects of Ritalin, cocaine, Ecstasy and marijuana. But if something goes wrong, well, who the hell would smoke or snort a bath salt, anyway?

 

 For some years now, K2, or Spice, as been the most popular of the synthetic cannabis alternatives. 

So popular, that an increasing number of states have banned the sale of K2. But before we go dancing in the streets and declaring a victory for the War on Drugs, guess what? The same creative chemists who brought us K2 and Spice have created a new product!

Barely Legal Incense!! The word is that it is even more potent than K2. "Spiced Up", you might say. With a couple of molecules switched here and a compound changed there, it slips through the ban on Spice because it is a different product!

And besides, it's clearly marked 'NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION'. (nudge, wink...)

Follow the link to read the whole story: Partnership for a Drug Free America: Synthetic Marijuana

Binge Drinking Linked With Brain Damage | Psych Central News

Binge Drinking Linked With Brain Damage | Psych Central News

“There might actually be indications of early micro-structural damage without the onset of pathological symptoms such as abuse, or dependence on alcohol.” ~Tim McQueeny, researcher

Most of us addiction counselor types have been saying this for a long time. There is something different and challenging about young adult 'binge drinkers'. Think of it as the physical consequences of alcoholism, minus the diagnostic symptoms, such as craving and withdrawal. Now the science is beginning to bear this out.

Bath Salts? You've got to be kidding!

That was my reaction when asked to do a presentation on Bath Salts to a local group of Adolescent Treatment Service Providers. I said, Mom would be so proud! I have now become the "go-to guy" for garbage drugs in Delaware County PA!

Well, kids, I was right and I was wrong. While there is a long and creepy history of use and abuse of household products to get high (and I was pretty sure that my research would lead in this direction) I was both surprised and appalled to discover that the current bath salt craze is less driven by the impulse to see what happens when you huff the Duster Buster Computer Cleaner Aerosol  and more like a sophisticated and entirely legal manufacture and distribution of...cocaine?
Ecstasy?
Amphetamine?
LSD?

How about all of the above, and then some?

Now, let me be clear, when we are talking about Bath Salts in this context, we are not talking about products such as Epsom Salts or any number of perfectly safe products that people have been soaking in for years. These are essentially Designer Drugs, chemical compounds that are engineered to mimic popular drugs of abuse, but with enough of a difference to make them structurally different, and while just as addictive and probably more unpredictable, completely legal!

If a state legislature bans a particular substance, it's back to the lab to tweak the product a little, and then back in business with a similar substance with a different chemical signature.

 To make matters even more interesting, these products are sold under a myriad of names, from thousands of retailers. They can be bought online, and in many gas stations and convenience stores.

And did I mention that they are undetectable in Urine and Hair Tests?

So obviously, we've got an issue here. A big one. As of this writing, I find a lot of hysteria and not much science.  NIDA's Director Nora Vowlkow has issued a statement http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/welcome/MessageBathSalts211.html

Please share questions and comments. We've all got a lot to learn on this one.

Help Save Collingdale's Myra's Place

 Help Save Collingdale's Myra's Place
Myra's Place in Collingdale has become a vital part of the Recovery Community in Delaware County. Don't let it close. Stop in for a meal, listen to a band, sing Sober Karaoke, hit a meeting, help someone rebuild a life.

Help Save Collingdale's Myra's Place: MyFoxPHILLY.com

This Memorial Day, Let's Remember....

...that not all of our fallen heroes die in battle.

Too many are lost in the silent but equally deadly struggles with addiction, alcoholism, mental health issues and poverty, directly related to their service in defense of their country.

Our Country.

 They deserve more than a day, once a year. Their families need more than a flag-draped coffin.

 They need us. Every day.

 Let's be there, for them, because God knows, they were there for us!

God Bless America!

The Mother's Day Sunday Wrap-Up

I am so glad that I can write some happy news for Mother's Day.

Timmy, who I posted about this week, missing for over a week, was sighted in Southwest Philadelphia, according to his mom, Doreen. She saw him with her own eyes, she said, and now knows that he is alive. That may not seem like much to some people, but to any parent familiar with the world of addiction and recovery, it's a big deal.

Thank you everyone who reposted the "Timmy" post, to everyone who called with a tip, or emailed me or called Doreen with info.

Happy Mother's Day

HAVE YOU SEEN TIMMY SHEEHAN?

If you know anything, please help!

Timothy M. Sheehan

Timmy Sheehan, age 24, from Aston PA, has been missing for over one week. His family is desperately worried and has filed a missing persons report. If you know anything at all about Timmy's whereabouts, or what has happened to him, you can contact me in complete confidence at 484 431 2931, or email me at KenWilliamsCAC@gmail.com.
 

Jesus Christ and Recovery

Back in the 1980s, a small Baptist Church in Delaware County approached me about doing some training on addictions for their fledgeling "drug ministry." I had never heard of a church drug ministry, and raised Catholic, didn't have much of an idea what a "ministry" was, either!

What it turned out to be was a group of extremely dedicated people, all members of the church, who were  serious about addressing problems of addiction and alcoholism within their community and their congregation.  They were great students, open, curious and receptive, and on a personal level, the kindest and most caring group I had ever encountered.

It was the first of many trainings I was privileged to do for the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Twin Oaks PA. For many years afterward, working in rehabs, I would get a call from a member of the Drug Ministry telling me that "one of ours" was coming in. No special treatment required, but I would expect to schedule a session with one of the Deacons from the Drug Ministry along with the usual family sessions and so forth. When it was time to plan aftercare, unless there was a reason for some specific counseling, I would discharge my client to "AA/Mt. Pleasant Drug Ministry."

The A.A. referral was primarily a CYA. The fact is  that I knew the Drug Ministry was the only referral necessarily.

For some people entering Recovery, the Church fulfills them in a way that no secular program can. They feel a vague disconnect in traditional 12 Step meetings, where the general talk of a Higher Power does not seem to be enough.

To be frank about it: They need Jesus Christ, and need a recovery community within which it is completely accepted to be a Christian first, and an addict or alcoholic, second. While this seems to fly in the face of traditional secular or 12 Step based treatment, the fact is that Christian Recovery Programs now account for a significant number of individuals in recovery from addictions.

• Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church's Drug Ministry has been in existence for over 20 years, and has helped hundreds upon hundreds of addicts and their families. Some of the Ministry's original trainees are now ordained Ministers, working to develop effective Drug Ministries within their own congregations.
• Celebrate Recovery, a Christian Recovery program affiliated with the Saddleback Church, and open not only to alcoholics, drug addicts and their families, but to people dealing with everything from co-dependence to compulsive gambling, has groups in over 10,000 churches and reports over 500,000 people having completed their 8 Step Program.
• For years,the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has listed Faith-Based Services as one of the most effective ways to deliver prevention information to youngsters.

I am sure that this post will generate discussion, and as always I welcome comments. Links are attached to some of the organizations mentioned in the post. Please check them out.

 Celebrate Recovery http://www.celebraterecovery.com/

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church http://www.mountpleasanttwinoaks.org/

Jacob's Well Counseling  http://www.jacobswellcounseling.org/index.html

Sacred Spaces Counseling Center http://www.sacredspacescounseling.com/

 (Special Thanks to my Stepdaughter, Karen Verrecchio Talbot, for her inspiration and guidance.)

What's God got to do with it?

For many years, one of the first tasks I had for anyone I counseled or supervised was: go to a couple of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and come back, and we will talk about it. It was effective--most people went, and came back with quite a bit to say and many topics for discussion.

In time, the task expanded. Narcotics Anonymous meetings were introduced as they came into existence, as well as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon. But one observation remained the same:

What's with the God business?

It always generated a lot of discussion. Supervisees coming from a secular background were appropriately skeptical, while both supervisees and people seeking recovery with a more religious background found 12 Step spirituality a little watered-down and weak.

And people who carried some very heavy baggage related to religion just shut down and disappeared.

This, along with other issues I have written about before, led me to a conclusion that for people recovering from addictions and their families, there is no one path that is right for everyone. Over the course of my next few entries, I am going to offer some  observations and contact info for several alternatives to the 12 Step model that have proven their effectiveness, and are much more specific to the needs of the individual seeking recovery.

Some are secular; some are faith-based.

All are effective. I look forward to the discussion.

The Suboxone “Solution” | Addiction & Recovery News

More on Suboxone: The Discussion Continues

The Suboxone “Solution” | Addiction & Recovery News

Suboxone: Recovery or Another Addiction? | The Fix

Reposts: More on Suboxone

Suboxone: Recovery or Another Addiction? | The Fix

Built-in, Shock-Proof: 13th stepping: a response to Mr. SponsorPants

More 13th Step:

Built-in, Shock-Proof: 13th stepping: a response to Mr. SponsorPants

The 13th Step | The Fix

More from some other bloggers on the 13th Step:

The 13th Step | The Fix

SUNDAY SOAPBOX: The 13th Step, Sexual Abuse in 12 Step Programs

"Same shit, verbatim" my friend Miranda says, and it's the truth.

It's one of those ongoing problems that just doesn't seem to want to go away. There are a lot of descriptions for it: sexual harassment, predatory behavior, sex addiction, etc., etc. It's nothing new, and never pretty, but there is something particularly despicable about it when it goes on in places we associate with safety. like churches and schools.

And 12th Step programs, where it's known as the 13th Step.

There are a million bad recovery jokes about it, but sadly, the issue itself is not funny. This week I have heard from three females, two adults and one 16 year old girl, all of whom had been subjected to sexual harassment at Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

I have heard about a male who asks for phone numbers, then takes a list intended for females and begins to mass text the women, saying he needs someone to talk to. He doesn't even have the imagination to vary the message.

As my friend says, "Same shit, verbatim."

Invariably someone says that it isn't just a male-harasses-female issue, but to be honest, I could count the number of female-harassing-males incidents I have encountered on one hand and have fingers left over.

So let's be clear: issues of sexual trauma and abuse abound in 12 Step programs. Predatory behavior is always destructive, in this setting, it downright lethal. Everyone deserves a chance to recover from addiction, and not to be driven away from a source of help and comfort by sexual harassment and abuse.

I took the Roman Catholic Church, of which I used to be a devout member, sternly to task for ignoring, aiding and abetting sexual abuse.

I will do the same to the 12 Step programs, which I love with all my heart. I refuse to be part of covering up sexually predatory behavior because of "anonymity" any more that I would condone it under the guise of "the greater good" in the church. If you engage in predatory behaviors in N.A. and A.A or any other 12 Step program, as far as I am concerned, you have forfeited your right to anonymity, and I will deal with you as I would any other sexual predator.

I will not let you destroy lives in a program that exists to save them.

I will not let you kill my program.

I sincerely hope I am not the only recovering person who feels this way.

(anyone who has survived 12 Step Sexual Abuse, or is being abused, contact Ken Williams in complete confidence at kenwilliamscac@gmail.com, or call or text Ken Williams' Recovery at 484 431 2931)

So, What Made Me an Addict? - washingtonpost.com

Good article from the Washington Post on the pro and con debate that's gone on for years:

Is addiction a disease or not?

So, What Made Me an Addict? - washingtonpost.com

Radical Decency Reflection 32: Being the Person I Hope to Become

From my friend, Jeff Larson:

Radical Decency Reflection 32: Being the Person I Hope to Become

To Be or Not To Be…. | Sacred Insights

I would like to introduce you to a new blog by my good friend (and fellow blogger) Jill Miller Schott.

Jill's thoughts on living a spiritual life in a secular world are both soothing and thought-provoking. Please click on the link and check out her excellent blog:

To Be or Not To Be…. | Sacred Insights

Weekend Wrap-up

It's Saturday.

That's a complete sentence.

I try my best not to do much on Saturdays. If I get better at it, I won't do anything at all on Saturdays.

But first, some loose ends from the week:

First of all, thanks to Chuck Niccolls and the great admissions staff at Pyramid HealthCare, especially Ebony. I had a very complicated case, factors that seemed to change every five minutes. Thanks to the Pyramid team, a young boy is getting the treatment he needs.

Which means that I also owe a debt of gratitude to Katie Gallagher, Probation Officer Extrordinaire, for all of her help and support in resolving this case. Thank you Katie!

Next, I want to draw your attention to two new publications on the INTERVENE web site. INTERVENE is a community of concerned parents and young people, dealing with adolescent substance abuse. INTERVENE offers two guides, one for intervention and one for treatment, that will be very helpful for anyone concerned about young people and addiction. They are available here: Treatment & Intervention Guides

Last but not least, congratulations to Michelle H, for completing basic training in the USAF and going on to her first duty assignment. Congratulations to Kate M, celebrating five years, and to my dear Goddaughter Anastasia, celebrating four years!

Now, back to avoiding work!

INTERVENE: A Community for Parents

I want to introduce the parents who read this blog to Intervene, courtesy of my friend and fellow blogger Ron Grover. If you are concerned about a child's addiction, please click on the link and check out this valuable resource.

INTERVENE: A Community for Parents

Intervention Made Simple.

The very thought of an intervention freaks people out. If you have seen interventions on TV, you probably have seen a lot of screaming and yelling, rabid denial, cursing and name calling, maybe even physical altercations. I watch this stuff and think, if that's the only intervention I'd ever seen, it would scare me half to death. 

It looks like The Exorcist as staged by the Three Stooges.

So let me spend a couple of moments on the all too simple, and extremely important elements that go into a successful intervention:

Everyone involved in the intervention needs to meet, in person, without the person who is the subject of the intervention present.

This is very important because it allows the intervention team to learn how to work together as an effective unit. Active addiction feeds on "divide and conquer" dynamics; the intervention's success or failure depends on the team's cohesiveness.

An outcome must be decided before the intervention.

Many interventions are very powerful and easily move the subject to where they are receptive to help, only to falter because the team has no idea how to access treatment. Consult with a professional or with a friend with some experience in this area who knows how to get your loved one the appropriate help.

Know what you are dealing with.

If you don't have a basic understanding of addiction as an illness, then your intervention is going to be weak. There are many excellent books and videos available. I recommend HBO's series "Addiction", and "Love First" by Jeff and Deborah Jay. Both are filled with information about addiction and its impact on the family.

Using a professional Interventionist.

A good Interventionist acts as a coach to help the team plan and perform the intervention. He or she should be experienced, competent, and able to provide references, such as other intervention families he has worked with, on request. An Interventionist should also be fair and reasonably priced. All services that the Interventionist is going to expect payment for should be clearly spelled out before any money changes hands.

There's more to it, but that's some basics. If you have any questions you can contact me at 484 431 2931, or email me at kenwilliamscac@gmail.com, or leave a post here.

Good luck!

Family, Cops Need Help Finding Missing Delco Teen - Local News - Philadelphia, PA - msnbc.com

Anna is missing and her family and friends are very worried about her. Someone knows where she is. Someone may believe they are helping by keeping her whereabouts secret. If you are, please contact me so that I can let her family know that she is safe. I will protect you identity. I have a good reputation as a Drug Counselor in Delaware County, and you do that by keeping people's confidence. You can contact me by posting here, by calling or texting me at 484 431 2931, or emailing me at kenwilliamscac@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help.

Family, Cops Need Help Finding Missing Delco Teen - Local News - Philadelphia, PA - msnbc.com

Pamela’s fight lives on: Aston mother recounts her daughter’s fatal battle with heroin addiction - delcotimes.com

The Courage to change the things we can:

Pamela’s fight lives on: Aston mother recounts her daughter’s fatal battle with heroin addiction - delcotimes.com

Come As You Are.

PRYSM is a youth center for gay and lesbian young people; transgender, bisexual kids as well as kids questioning their sexuality and their straight friends and other allies. 

In other words, it's a place where young people are welcome to come as they are, without fear of judgment or discrimination. The adults who are involved are among the most decent and caring people I have ever known. PRYSM has social activities and support groups and information and an atmosphere that is big on self-esteem and self acceptance. In some of these kids' lives, it may well be the only environment they encounter with those qualities. I am sure we can all remember the fate of the kid who was "different" in high school. As Thomas Wolfe said, "There are none so cruel as unthinking youth."

Or as a gay teen said to be, "I can spend a whole day and never see one other gay thing."

We are very fortunate to have PRYSM in our Delaware County Community.

PRYSM is holding a fundraiser on March 22nd. If you click the link above it will lead you to the home page, where you can get more information. In this age of scarcity, please be generous with this valuable organization that practices a true generosity of the spirit and the heart.

Myra's Place

I have written before about my good friend Barri Pepe's great contribution to the recovery community, Myra's Place. Now she has a web page, with all of the information about the good work that Myra's Place does. Please check it out. I can guarantee you will be glad you did.

Mark Ciavarella, Former Pa. Juvenile Court Judge, Convicted in Alleged 'Kids for Cash' Case - ABC News

The most heinous abuse of judicial power I have ever seen.

Mark Ciavarella, Former Pa. Juvenile Court Judge, Convicted in Alleged 'Kids for Cash' Case - ABC News

The Disease Concept, Redux

Last year was turbulent, to put it mildly. Ongoing issues with a family member's addiction; my illness and near-death experience. A thousand false starts and promises to get back to work, and write on a regular basis, etc. etc.

In brief, many of the ingredients of addiction, operating in the life of someone with many years of recovery, and suffering now from another chronic illness: COPD. Denial, rationalization, obsession, alibis,  broken promises.

But I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.

As we addiction counselors like to tell our clients, over and over again, there is so much more to the disease of addiction than the presence or absence of drugs, or booze, or gambling and so forth. The disease is a complicated cluster of distorted thinking, inappropriate emotion and dysfunctional coping skills.

And, as this old man can attest, that does not change overnight. 

Bill W. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

40 years ago today, one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century died in complete anonymity.

Bill W. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snow Closing: Ken Williams' Recovery.

We will be closed Wednesday January 12, 2011, due to snow. All appointments  & groups are CANCELLED. We will reopen Thursday January 12.

Sober traveling: A road trip of AA meetings and KOA campgrounds - latimes.com

My kind of travelogue!

Sober traveling: A road trip of AA meetings and KOA campgrounds - latimes.com