So now Vancouver has crack pipe vending machines—have you heard?Actually, maybe you didn’t hear. Even if you live in the Vancouver area, you may not have heard. It seems to me that this was on the news, local and nationally, for about two nights and then it was not covered anymore—and has now been virtually forgotten about.But somehow, I am unable to forget about it.According to those scanty news reports, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has approved the Portland Hotel in the Downtown Eastside to … [Read more...] about Crack Pipe Vending Machines: The New Kids on the Block
Helping vs. Enabling
Justin Bieber: The Latest Casualty of ‘Enabling’
Most of us knew it was only a matter of time.Not only were we hearing story after story about Justin’s “antics”—a media description that only served to minimize the severity of his actions—but those very actions were becoming more and more bizarre. Before today’s arrest for driving under the influence and resisting arrest, he was pitching raw eggs at his neighbor’s house causing thousands of dollars worth of damage—not to mention a sizable stash of illegal drugs that were found in his home.Do we … [Read more...] about Justin Bieber: The Latest Casualty of ‘Enabling’
Sometimes Love Looks like “No”: When to Set and Maintain Healthy Boundaries
Is it possible to have a healthy relationship with someone who is in active addiction? What needs to happen for that to occur? If you are in that situation, you have probably wondered about this many times. THE QUESTION OF THE DAY Several weeks ago I was interviewed on Talk Recovery radio, a new program on Vancouver’s Co-Op Radio station, dealing with addiction and recovery issues. I was honored to be chosen as their very first guest, and I had a great time talking with the interviewers about … [Read more...] about Sometimes Love Looks like “No”: When to Set and Maintain Healthy Boundaries
