Living out the 12th Step The twelfth step in Alcoholics Anonymous says, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” From the beginning, Gene Duffy, our founder, embraced this twelfth step, sharing his story of hope many times and placing the slogan, “Together they shared their experience, strength, and hope” on Duffy’s welcome sign. Thankfully, Gene’s son wanted to capture his father’s story with his camcorder, so today, we can ... Read More →

Our founder, Gene Duffy is a living legend, a daily inspiration, and our all-time favorite person to quote. Not long after he became sober, Gene dedicated himself to helping others find freedom and recovery (read Gene's story). Patrick, a Duffy’s counselor, said, “What I know about Gene Duffy is that he was absolutely passionate about helping alcoholics and addicts who were suffering.” Patrick is right: of all who knew Gene, they will remember his fiery, contagious, and unrelenting passion. But why did he care so much? Below is an excerpt from Gene's reasons for ... Read More →

If you're a serious or heavy alcoholic drinker, you might have experienced a blackout before. A blackout is different than passing out—this is a moment where you are basically functioning, walking around, talking, performing tasks, but aftewards you have no recollection of what happened.  What is a Blackout?  Real Blackout Stories The following are true blackout stories told by Gene Duffy, our founder. These are powerful reminders of how subtly dangerous excessive alcohol use can be.  Blackout Stories: How the Hell Did I Get Here?  Blackout Stories: What Can't You Do During ... Read More →

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 →

When I was a child, the issue of drugs and alcohol was presented one dimensionally. "Good girls and boys' didn't drink or do drugs." If we simply behaved, we never had to deal with the ugly problems of addiction. Poof, it was just that easy. Or so I was told. My Perspective: Bad People The complete avoidance of the real issues of addiction left me with the impression that anyone seriously addicted to anything could not be a good person. Period. They were people to be afraid of. People whose primary purpose was to give oneself a warm and ... 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 →

Though we will forever have the memories of what our lives were like before sobriety, it can be easy to forget the strength of the beast as we become busier, happier, and journey further in recovery. And that’s just what it wants.    You see, when we’re too busy or complaisant, we forget the real power of alcoholism and the havoc it can still cause in our lives.  I recently read a blog post by a recovering alcoholic entitled “A Letter to My Disease.” This personal letter illustrates the point so ... Read More →

Despite my experience with recovery and the 12 Steps, when difficulties arise, I still occasionally catch myself falling into old thought patterns. Some of those thoughts are a gut-level emotional response to the situation. Some are my attempt to find a quick solution to a problem. Neither is particularly productive nor useful. Fortunately, my experience with recovery helps me find my way through those uncomfortable moments back into the light. Here's my story from when three things disrupted my lovely, tranquil world early in 2012, each devastating in its own way.   Three Disruptive Moments  The first disruptive moment came ... Read More →

Everybody has a story; in fact life is full of stories. Some stories inspire us, some teach us lessons. Here we have a 12 different people and their stories abotut addiction and recovery.  1. Dan’s Story A former Duffy’s guest tells of his skepticism upon first arriving at Duffy’s, his desire to give up, and a counsellor’s love that changed his life. 2. Whitney Houston’s Story Doubtless you have already heard of the tragedy of one of America’s most beloved celebrities. Whitney’s death reminds us to ... Read More →

We sit around the table at my parent's cottage on the lake, the afternoon light reflecting off the water, blinding me through the windows and casting a golden hue on us. This is how I remember everyone, in this light, at this time of day. This is my family, like flawed angels with makeshift halos on their heads. We’ve been coming to the lake for Thanksgiving since I was a kid. So far, I haven’t had a single Thanksgiving anywhere else--except for last year. Last Year Last year, I spent Thanksgiving with my friends in ... Read More →