Mark and I began drinking about the same time, although he was almost three years my senior. He was about seventeen and I was fourteen. It all started out so innocently. About three or four years later, it started to be a habit with us to drive down to Ruston Way, in our hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Ruston Way was a secluded spot back then, in 1970, before it was the mecca it is today. There, we would guzzle down a quart of beer each. We had fun. It wasn’t too long after, we proclaimed to each other, “it seems to take more beer to get drunk,” as we were now bringing down a half-case of beer, and later a case. Those words still haunt me today as I reflect back to the earlier days of our habits we shared.

words of inspiration for someone fighting addiction Before starting this process, you must be prepared to set healthy boundaries and stay strong. Helping a loved one with addiction is very different from helping a loved one with any other illness. Anything that you do in order to ease his pain will only extend the disease making it stronger. As long as you are going to be there to hold his hand, bail him out, fix his mistakes, and make life easier, he will never see the need to fight his disease.

Make use of local state agencies and services to find a good one. Ask social workers about which programs they like the best. Your goal is to be drug-free so that you have your life back, so don’t put half an effort into your research. Ask plenty of questions while choosing a program and once you’re in a program.

H.A.L.T – H is for hungry, A for angry, L for lonely and T for tired. Often when people feel snappish or cranky a quick review of those for symptoms may pinpoint a cause. The danger of not paying attention here is that minor incidents can get blown way out of proportion if any or all of those four states are not dealt with.

words of inspiration for sobriety All too often your self worth may become dependent upon weather you live up to the expectations of others in “addiction recovery”. You may feel if you are perfect and follow the program exactly you will obtain the peace and forgiveness you seek. Don’t confuse your actions or the actions of others with God’s desire or will to love or help you. You may feel that if you relapse you have failed or are unworthy of God’s help. Or you may only feel valued if you “follow the program”, remain sober, attend meetings, or call yourself an alcoholic or drug addict as you have been told to do by the professionals.

All things are possible through prayer and Jesus said that all things are possible to him that believes. If we believe that we can be delivered from an addiction, then we can be delivered. If we believe that through prayer we can stay delivered, then we can stay in recovery.

words of encouragement for sobriety In the midst of all of this was Layne’s charismatic persona. His unusual vocal delivery and intense presence would turn him into one of rock’s most vivid frontmen. But it would be his inner demons that would inspire most of the band’s music. Despite Alice In Chains chart-reign from 1992-1996, the band would be unable to tour extensively due to Layne’s struggle with addiction. On July 3rd, 1996, he would make his final appearance with the band in Kansas City, Missouri. He then walked into the ether of seclusion and never looked back.

But regardless of whether your department tried such a tactic, or whether it worked, now is the time to take down the banners and advertisements offering rock-bottom prices and get back to what works best in a healthy economy, selling value. Position your products and services so that your customers know they’re getting good value, and handle substance abuse they’ll keep coming with bigger orders.