Stressful addiction-related family issues certainly apply year-round, but they are especially difficult at holiday time.

Why isn’t there more guidance on how to decline alcohol, considering the many social situations in which alcohol flows freely in our society?

My three adult children enjoy drinking, but aren’t alcoholics. Can you do this as a parent, even if you yourself have had a drug or alcohol problem?

Society negatively labels the drug-addicted in a way that sets them apart from the masses, rather than seeing them as humans with common behavioral symptoms arising from understandable feelings, emotions and conflicts.

When “rescuers” intervene, the aggressive approach can create discord and the people being “saved” tend to resist. A better alternative to rescuing is respectful, cooperative dialogue that engages people in discussion.

Approximately 30% of adults in the United States have had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) at some time in their lives. Despite the high number, only a small percentage ultimately seek professional help.

Achieving self-knowledge is already a difficult task, but the difficulty level can be particularly increased among those struggling with addiction. In fact, self-deception often goes hand-in-hand with chemical dependency.

This may just be one example of harm reduction allowing one alcoholic to improve his quality of life. But he didn’t die. I didn’t “let him” use and watch him spiral…

Although a few areas such as New York have made progress in this direction, the country lags behind and remains mired in a slough of ignorance and overdose death.

The short answer to this question, at the present time, is no. Do a substantial number of individuals struggle to regulate their sexual thoughts, urges, and behaviors? Yes.