Shannon Alder once wrote, “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” Shannon’s quote is very compelling and perhaps one of the most clearly stated on the true essence of leaving a legacy. Which helps us to beg the question, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? Will your children and grandchildren respect you? Will you leave a legacy etched in their hearts? In late March, Tom Claunch, a recovery inspiration living in New Zealand, passed away in Alabama ... Read More →

A New Obsession I'll never forget the first time my friends and I got a case of beer and got drunk together. I loved it. I wanted more. Nothing was ever the same after that because unless there was booze and drugs involved I wanted nothing to do with it. The booze and drugs took hold of me from day one. I never knew what would happen. . . I could hook up with a pretty girl, get in a fight or black out and wake up covered in vomit. But I still loved it. It was adventure in a bottle ... Read More →

It's the holidays--Christmas and New Year's--some of the hardest times of the year to stay sober--especially at a party. And chances are, every December, you get invited to multiple Christmas or New Year's events. Is it actually possible to hang out with your friends and not drink? If you're in recovery (or just don't want to drink), consider some of these helpful tips for staying sober at a party. (By the way, these tips aren't time sensitive--you don't have to use them just during the holidays; they'll actually work any time ... Read More →

Melissa Gilbert, star of the famous TV series Little House on the Prairie, has opened up about her past alcohol addiction and her public combat against prescription drug abuse to the news world. Sometimes, we forget that the disease of addiction affects everyone.  From Laura Ingalls to Leading Advocate Against Alcohol and Drugs Trapped by the bottle Similar to others trapped in addiction, Melissa's history includes rocky relationships and early experimentation with drugs and alcohol. But for Melissa, alcohol got out of control when she was in her late 30s. After her grandfather passed away, "something just triggered" ... Read More →

A key component to Duffy's has always been guests sharing their strength, hope, and experience. And now there's a new way for you to do this--Duffy's is now paying $100 for each guest blog post on Duffy's blog. Interested? We are primarily looking for two types of content: Stories of Strength, Hope, and Experience Everyone has a story--the person in recovery as well as the friends and family supporting the loved one. We'd love to hear about your experience. Anonymous posts are accepted.  Information on Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Or maybe you just have good ... Read More →

A research study done by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health proved what thousands before have believed to be true: that the 12 step program works, specifically for adolescents. Researches studied 403 participants between ages 13-18 who were enrolled in a treatment programs in northern California and followed their progress for over 7 years. How 12 Step Programs Can Help Teens The results of the study proved that 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can Reduce the risk of relapse Reduces health care costs: Medical costs were cut by an estimated 4.7%, or $145 each  year for hospital inpatient days, psychiatric ... Read More →

Right now, you’re probably not thinking too much about “beyond recovery”--perhaps because you’re still focusing on the recovery part and getting sober. Can I throw in a side note here and mention that recovery is not a static concept? Getting sober is the first step, but staying sober is the real deal of recovery--and staying sober is a constant battle. And finding happiness might mean learning how not to be a jerk.  Are You a Jerk? While recovering alcoholics and drug addicts can teach the world a lot about happiness, they&rsquo ... Read More →

Question: How successful is A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous)? Answer: Nobody really knows for sure--mostly because it is by nature anonymous and not formally organized--therefore, it is practically impossible to obtain accurate and reliable data. However, that doesn’t mean scientists and researchers don’t try. And depending on which article you read, the numbers are all different. Success Rates of A.A. A 2007 survey done of A.A. showed that 69% were sober for longer than 1 year: 33% of members said they’d been consistently sober for more than 10 years 12% were sober 5-10 years 24% were sober for ... Read More →

The Book of Answers is essentially a question and answer book, a compilation of FAQs followed by meaningful, reliable responses. Many of the questions came in the form of edited letters sent to the author, doctor James W. West--letters addressing real scenarios, letters asking for his comments or letters asking for his advice. The Author The author, James W. West, M.D. the vice-chairman and a member of the Betty Ford Center Board of Directors, is a man of experience and brilliance and understanding. He provides succinct, straightforward answers compacted with facts, science, and human warmth.  Though some ... Read More →

I was browsing Twitter today when I stumbled across a tweet from @TwelveDrawings. Having always been intrigued with art and drawing, I was instantly drawn to the tweet and soon found my way to www.twelvedrawings.com. And I found a treasure trove of encouragement and inspiration. Illustrating the 12 Steps  The artist wishes to remain anonymous in the spirit of the 12-step programs, but he has created a drawing for each of the 12 Steps, the Serenity Prayer, the 12 Promises, and the 12 Metaphors. On each page, the artist writes about his personal recovery experience related to that step ... Read More →