We should all embrace the need to stand up for ourselves when necessary. There are many different types of addicts and alcoholics. Many outsiders picture the substance abuser as someone who has trouble controlling their anger. They picture us as people who, with lowered inhibitions, will speak harshly or even commit acts of violence. They…
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There are few chapters as important to Alcoholics Anonymous as the fifth chapter. Many of the chapters before it may lead to mixed interpretations, which have the potential to divide those who feel differently about them. But “How It Works” is often used in the context of recovery itself, and is even read in numerous…
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A while back, we wrote an article on the benefits of small treatment facilities. We primarily focused on private facilities, as state-run facilities often lack the funding needed in order to truly operate at their best capability. This could be changed, however, if more funding were given to such treatment facilities. Even if low-income families…
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The death of musician Prince is not recent by modern press standards, but it’s still something that many are discussing. Not just because of the sadness that results from losing such an influential artist, but also because his death may be an indicator as to just how bad the drug problem has become in this…
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On the face of things, it may seem rather cynical to proclaim that we all have a dark side. Luke Skywalker got a little angry, but ultimately remained a Jedi. And looking outside of fictional characters, you won’t find a whole lot of stories about that time Mother Teresa got drunk and screamed at her…
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We’ve finally reached the halfway point in this series on the Twelve Concepts. If you actually read Conference-approved literature on the Twelve Concepts for World Service, you will find that Concept VI has one of the shorter write-ups, despite the fact that its definition is longer than any other we have covered to date. This…
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When we take the First Step in AA or NA, there is usually a feeling of relief that follows. We come to realize that our former lives are full of moments in which we could have taken the right path, yet chose to discredit any that did not agree with us. This is often unacceptable…
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In recent articles, we have discussed the trending opioid epidemic at length. We talked about the manner in which prescription drugs may lead to heroin, as well as the ways in which advertising has affected opioid use. What we have not discussed, however, is some of the other drugs commonly involved in this trend. And…
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If you poke around a bit on the internet, you’ll find a lot of people who believe that treatment centers such as Amethyst are unnecessary. Not only do they believe that a person can quit on their own, but they often quote sometimes questionably funded studies that say quitting outside of treatment has a higher…
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Each month, we have been updating our series on fulfilling the Twelve Promises. Now that we’ve reached June, it is time for us to focus on the Sixth Promise. The Sixth Promise is about learning not to doubt ourselves. It is about learning to accept ourselves for what we are. And if we can do…
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