By David Palmer I’ve known Bobby Ward for most of his 20 years of sobriety and have been entertained and enlightened at recovery meetings over the years by his story, which he delivers with self-deprecating humor illuminated by a megawatt smile. So it was with great anticipation that I drove over to the UAMS Psychiatric Hospital to pay him a visit. Bobby, who has since left the hospital for another  job, was a clinical director for substance abuse treatment and directed the chemical dependence … [Read more...]

Nurses in recovery. A new book on prescription drug abuse From Unbecoming a Nurse to Overcoming Addiction By Paula Davies Scimeca, RN, MS Sea Meca, Inc. $19.95 “One day after having been up all night getting high,” a registered nurse writes in her testimony in Paula Scimeca’s book, From Unbecoming a Nurse to Overcoming Addiction, “I got ready for work in the wee hours of the morning. I took my shower, ironed my uniform and walked to work. “Mid-morning that day, I was passing medications. I … [Read more...]

Ex-Marine and Vietnam War Veteran Bob G. is the unofficial face of Recovery Central, a new Little Rock facility for 12-Step meetings, mainly Narcotics Anonymous. An alcoholic and former methamphetamine addict, Bob sponsors more people than he can count. And he does it by the book (See The Narcotics Anonymous Step Working Guides and Working Step Four in Narcotics Anonymous). When Bob G. is your sponsor, you can figure you’re going to spend a year working with him on the steps. And you’re going … [Read more...]

By Jan Kucala Every day modern kids have to make choices that we as parents, teachers and counselors may never have dreamed about when we were kids. Kids are under more stress today than previous generations. For many the word “family” may not evoke images of love and support but rather arguments and disconnection. Kids hear parents worrying about their jobs and money; they may be responsible for younger siblings; they're under pressure to do well in school and get into colleges; they're under … [Read more...]