I received an email from a friend of mine in recovery yesterday of a recovery calender. It really affected me. It’s so wonderful to see something like this. It grounds me, makes me smile, and remember that I’m never alone . . . even when I’m by myself.

Here’s the email:

We are going to try to see if we can fill the calendar up with recovery dates for every day of the year.
Add your name — NO LAST NAMES — and the city (where you came into the Program)

next to your date with your recovery year
list below. Then send this list to all of your RECOVERING friends, plus
the person who sent it to you! Let’s see if we can do it!!!
Remember, COPYING and PASTING this to NEW E-mail will keep it clean and
make it easier to read than just forwarding it. If someone has already
put their name in the slot of your birthday, please just ADD your name
beside it. PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THAT PERSON’S NAME!!!

Here we go………………

January 01- Nancy (Castlegar, BC Canada); Janet C. (North Miami Beach, FL 1987); Jennifer C. (Van Nuys, CA 2006)
January 02- Kimberly (Piapot, SK, Canada)
January 03- Marlene G. (Philadelphia, PA)
January 04- Kevin C. (San Francisco, CA), David H. (Miami, FL)
January 05- Dennis G.. (Chino, Ca.) , Mary C.(Kennett Square, PA)
January 06- Lara D.. (North Hollywood, CA), Pepsi (San Pedro 1998)
January 08- Bobby C. (City, state? 1995)
January 09- Lori H. (Miami, FL), Laurie L. (Anchorage, Ak, 1996)
January 10- Terri & Jerry S. (Cottonwood, AL 1996)
January 11- Annie C. (Boca Raton, FL), Kelli H. (Racine, WI)
January 12- Joyce (Palestine, TX) Tammy N. (Whitewater, WI)
January 13-
January 14- Anthony B [Tupelo, MS] 
January 15- Jean (Brooklyn, N.Y. 1989 )
January 16- Dina D. (San Pedro, CA 1997)
January 17- Lauren S. (Anchorage, AK, 2005)
January 18- Ram R. (Sturgeon Bay WI 1996)
January 19- Sydney B. (Arcata, CA 2005), Betty F… (St. Charles, IL
1988) Kelly T. (Hallandale Beach, FL 2003)
January 20- Deborah P. (Jacksonville , FL)
January 21- Ro A. (Bryan, TX)
January 23- Mr. Jimmie C. (Victorville, Califas)
January 28- Cat R. (Mason City, IA)
January 29- 1976 (Chino, CA)
January 30- Kimmie (Baltimore, MD 2007) Jim W. (Chippewa Fal ls, WI 1980)

April 01- Shell H. (Greeley CO 1996)
April 02 - Terri R. (ABQ, NM 2005)
April 15- Gina F. (Moreno Valley, CA 2006) Mary Jo M (Bellingham, WA
1995)
April 17- Ed S. (Chicago, IL 1983)
April 24- Mark W. (Chicago, IL 1984)
April 27 - Tammy F. (Glenolden, PA 1996)
April 28- Tina Mc (Chippewa Falls, WI 1993)
April 30- April B. (San Diego, CA 1989)
May 01- Brickiejohn (Sydney NSW Australia 1967), Paul S.(Batavia,
IL.1991)
May 15- Jeff G. (Delray Beach, FL)
May 18- Andy Mac (Pell City, AL 2003)
May 23 - Marcy M (Belingham, WA 1989); Frank B (Chicago, IL 2000)
May 24- Jonathan Farrar (Birmingham,Al.2006)
May 28 - Shay P. (Levittown, PA, 2001)
June 01- Gregg G. (Chicago, IL201992)
June 02- Carol K. (Philadelphia, Pa.1979)
June 04- Ardy R (Albuquerque, NM 2001)
June 07- Pat F. Ridgefield, CT (1987)
June 13 - Lisa (F.) E. (Ventura, CA 1981) [Died 2008 with 27 years of
sobriety] LIsa M, St. Petersburg FL 2008
June 15 - John E (Lawndale CA) 1993 Sandy B ( Pennsburg,Pa) (2003)
June 16 Randy B (Pennsburg, PA) (2003)
June 17- Katie R (Reseda, CA 1980)
June 18- Reid C. (Gadsden, AL 2005)
June 20- Anthony P. (Forest Park, IL. 1991)
June 23- Michael C. (Chicago, IL 2003)
June 24- Karl W.. ( Greeley, CO 1987) Michelle M (Albuquerque, NM 2002)
June 26- Jenny T. (Maui, HI 1988)
July 07 - Kathryn A. (Anchorage, AK 2006)
July 08 - Janet K. (Pasadena, CA 1986)
July 14 - Rochelle P (Harleysville, PA 1997)
July 15 - Doug D. (Sedro Woolley, WA 2000)
July 16 - Barb R. (Secane, PA, 2007)
July 19- Christie A. (Aurora, IL 1996) Nicole D (Bellevue, WA - 1996)
July 24- Michelle K. (Gadsden, AL 2004)
July 26 - Darlene G. (Riverside, Ca 1999) Rexie H. (Pullman, WA 2005)
Debbie I. (Kent, WA 2006) -
August 01- Liz B. (Ridgefield, CT 1992) Mike P (Philadelphia, PA 1986)
Quita A. (Guilford, CT 2005)
August 05- Julie H (Naperville, IL 2007)
August 09- Marilyn P (Sacramento, CA, 2008)
August 16- Darlene I. (Everett, WA 2000)
August 17- Teresa B.. (Hoover, AL 2005)
August 19- Donna M. (Cicero,IL.1994)
August 20- John Mc (Birmingham, AL 2006)
August 21 Jan N (Anchorage, AK 1998)
August 25 Eric B (St. Louis, MO 2004)
August 30 - Samantha M. (Greeley, CO, 1995)
September 01- Elena C (Toronto, ON, Canada 2006)  

September 05 - Lisa S (Tampa, FL,  USA 1986)
September 08- Craig E (Bellingham, WA 1989)
September 11- Carla G. (Linwood, NJ 1996)
September 15- Howard R. (San Jose CA 1985)
September 16-Christine W. (Myrtle Beach, SC 1996)
September 24- April B (Sterling, CO 2002) Jason B (Sterling, CO 2002)
Lisa C (Denver, CO 2006)
September 27- Darrell M (Thunder Bay Ontario Canada 2005)
September 29- Martin C (Bellingham, WA 1952!!!),Alison S.(Ridgefield, CT
2005)
September 30- Kim R. (Milwaukee, WI 1997)
October 01- Mary HP (Ridgefield, CT 1987)
October 05- LeRoy O. (Ladysmith,WI 1981)
October 07- Rhonda L (Naperville, IL 2002) Bob M (Bellingham, WA 1991)
Margie P. (South Philly Group) (Philadelphia, PA.1975)
October 15 - MaryEllen P (New York, NY 1983)
October 23 - Steve R. (Albuquerque, NM, 2006)
October 27th - Tani G. (Albuquerque, NM, 1996)
October 28 - Susan H. (Anchorage, AK., 2002)
October 30 - Ellen M., Sacramento, CA 1987 Cathy M. Levittown,PA 1983 November 02- Fernando ‘Nando’ M. (San Diego, CA 1995) Bill B. (Mexico,
D.F. 1960)
November 1 - John Drew (St. Louis, MO 1986)

November 9- Ken Powell (Philadelphia, PA. 1976)
November 13 - Jill S., Anchorage, AK 2007
November 14- Scott M. (Mt Vernon WA 2004)
November 15 Jo D. (Secane,Pa. 1992)
November 17 Sharon S (Aliso Viejo, CA)
November 29, Deb C (Boulder, CO 1987)
November 20 Angelique F. (Hartford, CT 1988)
November 25- Bruce P (Chicago, IL)
November 26- Ray H (Victoria Australia March 1982)
December 08- Julie T-V (Chicago, IL 1997)
December 16- Aretha W. (Albuquerque, NM 2005)
December 17- Dee T. (Ridgefield, CT 1990)
December 21- Mickey D (Chicago, IL 1983)
December 23- Sarah Hamilton (St. Petersburg, Fl. 2006)
December 26- Nancy W. (Berwyn, IL 1995)
December 27- Nancy C (Elko, NV)
December 28 - Carlos B (LA, CA 1973)
December 29- Sharon A. (Bellingham, WA 1982)
December 31-Steve S. (Ridgefield, CT 2004)

November 20th, 2008 Eric Posted in 12 Step Recovery | No Comments »

If you’ve ever wondered why Addiction Treatment Centers typically offer 28 or 30 day programs, then I might have the answer for you. Here’s what an article on addiction treatment in the Connecticut Post had to say:

Treatment programs of 28 or 30 days are still common. But this template was never based on medical evidence, says Dr. David Lewis, Vision’s medical director. Lewis, who in the 1970s helped establish the first addiction treatment program in the U.S. Air Force, says 30-day stays were scheduled for bureaucratic reasons — men and women didn’t need to be reassigned if they were away from duty for no more than 30 days. Other treatment centers followed suit, and insurers adopted the standard of 28 or 30 days of inpatient care.

This is a great article discussing the effectiveness of long term treatment for addiction. As much as I’d like to talk about everything the struck me as interesting in the article, it would require a very long post. So, I’ll break it up in to pieces.

November 19th, 2008 Eric Posted in Addiction Articles, Drug Addiction Recovery | No Comments »

November 18th, 2008 Eric Posted in Addiction Video, Heroin Addiction | No Comments »

Just thought I’d pass along a great service from the Al-Anon Family Groups - a serious of podcasts that called First Steps to Al-Anon Recovery. This is a great site - well designed, rss feeds, and additional links. I was very impressed. If you are affected by a family member or friend’s alcoholism and want to know if there’s help, then visit this site. It’ll provide you with a ton of good information. There is also information on Alateen - which is essentially Al-Anon for adolescents.

Some of the Al-Anon and Alateen books we carry:
The Delimma of the Alcoholic Marriage
The Al-Anon Family Groups
Living Today in Alateen
Living With Sobriety - Another Beginning

November 6th, 2008 Eric Posted in Al-Anon | No Comments »

A friendly reminder from Recovery Superstore to exercise your Freedom. Go Vote Today!

November 4th, 2008 Eric Posted in General, Recovery Superstore | No Comments »

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about a Canadian drug study called NAOMI where heroin addicts were given doses of heroin on a daily basis. The study contended that this was helping them. I disagreed. Apparently, I’m not alone. In a new article from from GlobeandMail.com they blast the study, pointing out a lot of holes in their argument.

I believe that giving heroin addicts daily doses and telling them that they are getting better only creates a feeling that they can use successfully. In GlobeandMail.com’s new article, one of the addicts agreed himself:

But Mr. Liang, 41, who began using drugs at 18, says the free heroin made him complacent about his addiction. Other addicts, he says, took advantage of the free heroin, even competing for how much they could consume each day. For some, their habits grew worse. “They were heroin pigs,” he said, shaking his head.

Giving reliable, structured doses of heroin to a heroin addict does nothing to treat the addiction. That’s like giving reliable, structured doses of peanuts to someone with a peanut allergy.

November 4th, 2008 Eric Posted in Addiction Articles, Addiction Professionals | 1 Comment »

From Daily Reflections

November 3rd

There is a direct linkage among self - examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 98

If I do my self - examination first, then surely, I’ll have enough humility to pray and meditate - because I’ll see and feel my need for them. Some wish to begin and end with prayer, leaving the self - examination and meditation to take place in between, whereas others start with meditation, listening for advice from God about their still hidden or unacknowledged defects. Still others engage in written and verbal work on their defects, ending with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. These three - self - examination, meditation and prayer - form a circle, without a beginning or an end. No matter where, or how, I start, I eventually arrive at my destination: a better life.

November 3rd, 2008 Eric Posted in Alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous, Daily Meditations | No Comments »