Has anyone else noticed how early the Christmas Chaos began this year? Here in Vancouver, a number of people became so disgruntled by the early onset of Christmas music in some of the stores—in the middle of October—that they took to Facebook en masse and complained. One store in particular, Shoppers Drug Mart, appeased the naysayers by stopping that music, but only after they drew their line in the sand, assuring us that the carols would resume again at the end of October. And they … [Read more...] about Addicted to Christmas Chaos? Taming the Madness this Holiday Season
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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year–or is it…?
Ah, Christmas! The very thought of it brings to mind warm, loving families, cozy fireplaces, sugar plum fairies, and the very gifts you’ve been secretly hoping for. Definitely the most wonderful time of the year… Unless… Unless you are the loved one of someone with an addiction—and then that beautiful snapshot can look completely different. In truth, the Christmas season is the most difficult time of the year for people who love someone struggling with addiction. The anxiety that … [Read more...] about It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year–or is it…?
Rape is Rape
“Rape is rape.”That’s what Barack Obama said on the Jay Leno show.Unfortunately, he was compelled to comment on this issue because the male Republican misogynists are at it again.It wasn’t enough for Todd Akin to oh-so-stupidly announce that women who are “legitimately raped” have a biological mechanism that will enable them to spontaneously end their resulting pregnancies. Now Richard Mourdock has outed himself as a bona fide idiot by stating that when women find themselves pregnant as a result … [Read more...] about Rape is Rape
Groovin’—Clean & Sober—On a Sunday Afternoon: Vancouver Celebrates “Recovery Day”
A few weeks ago, to the delight of all the recovering addicts in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson declared that September 30th would be “Recovery Day.” The last weekend of September saw a variety of Recovery Day events in many places across Canada and the US. While cities like Atlanta, Georgia celebrated their 4th annual Recovery Day, Vancouver enjoyed its first of hopefully many more days like this to come. As a recovering addict myself with 25 years clean and sober, I was … [Read more...] about Groovin’—Clean & Sober—On a Sunday Afternoon: Vancouver Celebrates “Recovery Day”
Doctors and Addiction: How Much Does YOUR Physician Really Know?
I’ve been hearing about a program designed to help doctors learn more about addiction—and I am so very glad and relieved to know that this is finally happening. As both an Addictions Therapist and someone with 25 years clean from prescription drug abuse, I am quite aware of the damage that is caused by physicians writing script after script for addictive narcotic medications such as Percoset and Oxycontin, as well as for benzodiazepines like Valium and Ativan. MY STORY I myself became … [Read more...] about Doctors and Addiction: How Much Does YOUR Physician Really Know?