Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be a helper. I helped my mother with my little sisters, I cheeredmy friends up when they were sad by making them laugh, and I went to great lengths to please people,or in my young mind, ‘help’ the situation. Often, those efforts went against my beliefs or desires andbegan to

I was not one of those people who had their first sip of alcohol and thought, “Where have you been all my life!”. My transformation–from a woman who drank wine to have fun, enhance the moment, relax, and take the edge off, to a woman who drank warm vodka alone behind closed doors–happened slowly over time. I do not remember

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Ian Parker shared his story of recovery from addiction. His parents, Melody and Roger, introduced him. To view the video recording of his Vigil speech click here. We also share his testimonial in full below. Thank you, Ian, for being so open about your recovery! Families empower

On Wednesday, August 30th at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Keri Crossley shared her story of recovery from alcohol misuse as a teenager. Her parents, Tracy and Debbie, introduced her. To view the video recording of her Vigil speech click here. We also share her testimonial in full below. Thank you, Keri, for being so open about your

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Nick deSpoelberch shared his story of addiction to opioids and his recovery which now has reached a decade. To view the video recording click here, and see below to read his testimonial in full. Thank you, Nick, for being so open about your recovery! Hi everyone. I’m

The quote by Maya Angelou, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give”, is how I can best describe the landscape of my recovery walk.  I had always considered myself an alcohol abuser, not an alcoholic. After all, I was able to stop drinking alcohol completely from the age of 27-34. How could I possibly be a person with a

It was a frigid Monday morning on February 6, 2017. I was so afraid to leave my apartment in Brooklyn. Ireached the point where I could not trust myself to stay alive. My addiction had me exactly where itwanted me. I was filled with fear, guilt, shame and–most importantly–loneliness. The last 14 months had been a whirlwind. I had been

I have no idea if most people in recovery from substance use disorder recall hitting bottom, but I sure do. It was 16 years ago this month I arrived at a federal prison in Pennsylvania facing a double-digit sentence, disbarment, and total loss of connection with family and friends. Life as I had known it was turned upside down and

When I asked for help at 18 during my freshman year at college, I had no interest in recovery.  I had no desire to be sober, to uncover my true potential, to discover the life that would unfold for me.  Instead, I just wanted the Merry-Go-Round to stop. I was in a constant cycle of trying to escape the consequences

“This is going to hurt”. I realized the speeding car I was travelling in was not going to make the turn. Then impact! My good high school friend Carter and I connected with a large oak tree. The car flipped. Total chaos. Now everything was quiet. I remember in these moments of silence thinking “so this is what it’s like