Substance abuse vs. addiction Published: Mon, Oct 10, 2011 * Why do you bother me? I only drink a six-pack of beer a night! * I only use meth on weekends — like, it’s not every day! * I don’t know why the doctor is mad at me just because I took four weeks of Lortabs in 10 days. He gave them to me! These are just a few examples of the many statements I have... Read More

Just Looking or Taking Action? Published: Mon, Jan 25, 2010 Q: People browsing bookstores are not surprised to find many self-improvement books featured on the front shelves. They sell because customers want to improve their lives. As a rule of thumb, how many buyers do you believe are motivated to accept the author's advice? A: No one will ever know because no report... Read More

Behavioral Addictions Published: Sun, Jul 27, 2008 She thought she had won. Mary* had been sober for 13 years, but she discovered that her alcoholism had not just left—it had left her with a hole. That hole was just one of many that Mary sought to fill with relationships. “I had a sex and love addiction,” Mary says. Read More

12-step Recovery Program Published: Sun, Jul 27, 2008 For any 12-step program to succeed, the person trying to recover from an addiction or a compulsion must be motivated to stop. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) first published a 12-step program in 1939, and more than 50 self-help organizations — Debtors Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and Online... Read More

Cherokees building a better tomorrow Updated: Sun, Jul 18, 2004 FAIRFIELD - Until a few months ago, Brenda Locust never had used a measuring tape, much less a nail gun or table saw. Today, she's proficient in most aspects of basic construction, and soon, she'll have a new four-bedroom home to show for it. It will replace a cramped, two-bedroom rental house where Locust and... Read More