THERE IS HOPE FOR ADDICTS

I was shocked to hear that 157 people have died just in Hillsborough
CounA-ty from accidental overdose of drugs just since January. While I
work in this business of substance abuse treatment, that number is
still shocking, and I know it must be shocking to others.

For years we have fought the 'new addiction trend' that was alcohol,
heroin, then marijuana, then crack cocaine, and now Oxys and Roxies,
short for oxycodone or Roxicodone.

And we learned each drug is different and treatment needs are
different. But with the right dose of treatment and the right
intervention, recovery from addiction is possible.

Most articles and news focus on addiction, the effects on society and
the scourge of the disease and how it tears families and relationships
apart. It is time that the focus of the disease is about recovery.
Recovery is healing, recovery is fun, recovery is possible, recovery
is change, and recovery is really what it is all about.

My brother-in-law found recovery from this disease about 18 months
ago.

What a difference his recovery has made in the lives of our family.
The changed person that he is resembles the much younger man I knew
years before. He wasn't always addicted. He was a veterinarian, a
father, a family leader for years. Then in his addiction he became
hateful, sarcastic, self-abA-sorbed and out of touch with all of our
needs or emotions. He avoided opporA-tunities to make his wife happy
after being married for 38 years, and she found herself attending many
events alone as if he just wasn't in her life anymore. It was sad. In
fact, he was disinterested in 'anything family' or community.

In his recovery, he has been a 'rock' of support for my son and his
wife, who had premature twins. He frequented the neonatal intensive
care unit during the infants' three-month stay, offering spiritual
support. He certainly would not have been available the year before.
We are all richer and happier because of his recovery, and we have
found that he is the happiest. It hasn't been easy for him. He works
the steps, he is spiriA-tually centered, which spills over to the rest
of his family and friends. Recovery is work. He must keep working at
reA-covery so the disease doesn't come back and take him away from us
again.

Recovery is wonderful. It is the other side of the mountain and brings
happiA-ness not only to those who are recoverA-ing but change and
happiness to those who love the addict. To celebrate and learn more
about recovery please join us at our free celebration on Sept . 25 at
the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. so
come with your family or friends and see the screening of the movie
'The Secret World of Recovery' at 1:15. You will be glad you did.