What is it about our self-esteem that will drive some of us to the outer edges of our sanity? Throughout my nearly thirty-year career as an addiction counselor, I’ve worked with people from all walks of life. Some had the strongest addictions imaginable – others...
I received so much positive feed back and questions from my last article “Our Addictive Society” that I was encouraged by readers to write a follow up. In this second installment my focus is on what I call the “Neo-Opium Wars” that is taking place right now, here on...
Thirty-years ago I was as blind to addiction as nearly everyone else walking down the street. It never occurred to me that I might be addicted to anything. Like everyone else I got up in the morning and went to work. I was productive at my job and provided my family...
Motivation comes in many forms. For me, it was the pain of watching my son deal with addiction. He over-doesd twice before he was old enough to drive and then tried to hang himself. Watching a son try to end his life is enough to break any father. But instead, I used...
The hell like conditions of combat has a wide range of both physical and psychological effects on even the most prepared soldier. Today’s accepted symptoms of Post-Trauma Stress Disorder were first described by a doctor during the Civil War. Shell shock was a term...
In March 2013 I was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 1st International Conference on Behavioral Addictions, held this week in Budapest, Hungary. The purpose of the conference was to gather the world’s leading experts on process addictions to discuss their...
Michele had struggled with the pain and darkness of depression and suicidal ideation her entire life. At one time or another she was prescribed nearly all of the name brand anti-depressants. Some worked, others didn’t. Watch this gripping interview with Liz Quirantes...
Addiction treatment is very personal to me. Nearly thirty-years ago it was me who was having trouble getting free of drugs. My behavior when I was using nearly ruined my life and took away all that was dear to me. If it wasn’t for my family and close friends pushing...
Friday April 6 – FOX affiliate WTVT TVGreat news! My close friend and colleague Dr. Ken Blum and I have been invited to appear on the Tampa, Fl. FOX affiliate WTVT TV. They’re going to tape the interview on Friday April 6 and air it soon after. Dr. Blum and I...
It never ceases to amaze me just how truly gifted and misguided addicts really are. During my nearly thirty-year tenure of holistic addiction treatment, I’ve had the privilege of treating some of the biggest names in Hollywood, the music industry, professional...
