What inspired me to write “Secret No More”

What inspired me to write “Secret No More”

When addiction first crept into our household 11 years ago, I started keeping a journal. Retreating to clean white paper became my refuge. The blank pages stared back, non-judgmental and welcoming. On their unvarnished surface I poured out my anguish, fear, confusion and shame. It was the only place – until many years later – …

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What’s in a name

What’s in a name

Ask anyone who knows something about addiction. Or read any article on the topic. Most will say addiction is a disease. When I first heard that, even long before addiction assaulted my family, I thought it was a kind way of labeling something people did to themselves.   Abusing drugs or alcohol was a choice, wasn’t …

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Denying denial

Denying denial

The mom’s face gives it away every time.  Her son is using only a little, she tells me.  He smokes weed sometimes.  Well maybe more than just sometimes. Yes, he spends a lot of time in his room, and he doesn’t seem to care about school anymore.  But no, he’s not an addict. For the …

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