PAL Blog

Read stories and insights from parents and experts in addiction recovery. Everyone has a story, and by sharing, we can empower each other, and find paths forward – together.

A Parent’s Story

Articles by Parents Like You
I had to learn to accept the hard truths

I had to learn to accept the hard truths

​ When my son, Trevor, was 24, I had to come out of denial and admit he had an addiction. Trevor is my son with my first husband, Michael. Michael and I both struggled with drugs and alcohol. You may be thinking “No wonder he’s an addict.” Truth be told, with my...

It’s Okay for Me to be Happy

It’s Okay for Me to be Happy

​ Our family consisted of mom, dad and three children. I was married for 20 years to an abusive man who regularly beat and humiliated everyone in the family. When I finally left, my daughter Nancy had just turned 12. Her brother had already moved out and her older...

The View from Recovery

Articles by People in Recovery
Memories can be helpful…provide perspective…hope

Memories can be helpful…provide perspective…hope

​​​​ For many years I thought about giving up. Throwing in the towel. Letting go of life itself. And to a certain degree, that’s what I did. Drug addiction, in all its forms, is like a version of suicide via layaway plan; roll the dice everyday wagering your own...

25 Million People Can’t Be Wrong

25 Million People Can’t Be Wrong

When looking at stark statistics these days, it can be easy to lose hope. So many souls lost to the disease of addiction – especially these days with the proliferation of fentanyl-based drugs littering our communities. And while it’s important to stay informed – to be...

A Taste of the Lifestyle

A Taste of the Lifestyle

​​ One of the great regrets of my life, at a certain time, was the effect I believed I had on my brother in my early days of addiction. While we can pontificate on the nature of this beast – the way addiction as a disease works and manifests itself in individuals – I...

From Counselors

Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
Detaching with love

Detaching with love

​ If you spend any time around addiction recovery circles you are bound to hear a lot of recovery lingo. Mottos, sayings, and acronyms abound - and for good reason. These sayings are tremendously wise and pack helpful tools and perspectives into short memorable...

Intervention 

Intervention 

What is an intervention and how do we know if we need one? First, let’s define it. An intervention according to Merriam Webster is: the act of interfering with the outcome or course especially of a condition or process (as to prevent harm or improve functioning).  So,...

One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time

An essential tool for recovery. Navigating addiction in the family is typically overwhelming on its own, bringing the past or future into it creates even more anxiety and tension and complicates an already difficult situation. It is enough to have to deal with today...

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