Dear Addict came to be by wanting a question and answer, write in anonymous column. All names are false, and irrelevant, feeling safe is the 1st goal to provide you and secondly, knowing our not alone is Dear Addicts primary message throughout.

It as you will see next issue, we will now be fulfilling our first objective what I believe is the most important aspect. Answers. Answers which educate us, inform us, confirm or deny us, and provide us.

This is a safe means of obtaining information you may have otherwise not felt the timing or situation was appropriate, or again, safe prior to this.

I need to clarify with you I have no degree but do have 24 years experience in both using narcotics and in and out of recovery mixed with a large variety of revery solutions and have learned a great deal. I will research something if I have no answer and again, there are many approaches and opinions to program and recovery, these are just my learnings and experiences.

Talk to me. There is nothing I will not answer or just listen, if you just need to vent. I give you my word, I will never jeopardize another person’s confidentiality nor disrespect any opinion or comment and would not and have not heard a question about this disease that was not valid and finally hold no judgement 

as I have never walked in your shoes.

Alone. But you can recover and live in a solution without this pain and loneliness, this suffering and these harsh risks. You can live in a solution that is full of hope, faith and behaviors you can be proud of. You can live in a solution with friends, trust and rewards. You can live in a solution without mood altering chemicals and be actually able to deal with your emotions. You can live in a solution where you are independent, driven and humble. You can live in a solution that offers ongoing recovery to heal, grow and learn. Most importantly you can live in a solution where you are no longer alone and never have to be again.

You can handle recovery by reaching out and slowly trusting it’s process. A process where every day carry’s you a different miracle, whether noticed or not, regardless of size, the continual reoccurring miracle can be that you are sober today, in RECOVERY.

You can have your life back.

Congratulations America from us here North of the Border, for this September, celebrating 20 years of National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month. Bravo!

We made it. Issue five and Dear Addict’s still alive. Three Major reasons to celebrate 1) Issue 5

2) Dear Addict introduces her new Partner 3) Congratulations America, from us North of the Border. WOW A 20 year birthday for the National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month, all September. Congratulations from us here North of the Border.

Yes we are celebrating with you. We all know too well, this disease holds no boundaries, race, or political views. Nor does it’s Recovery. The National Drug and Alcohol Recovery month main website for events and information can be found at. www.recoverymonth.gov/ and to find out who Dear Addict’s new Partner is and more on Recovery tune in tomorrow later in the day. Full issue end of day tomorrow. Let's Celebrate-Sober Style. Whoa

cheers,

kimberly gray

lyricsingray

And He's What?

Tuesday September 1st, 2009

Dear Addict

From the Editor;

(Part of Issue 5)

Cool, but what will be different? Many things, really cool stuff is

formulating through this new Dynamic Duo. My Partner's name is David

first of all, and as each issue unfolds, he will be courageously sharing his

hope strength and courage. His Story. It is one I believe, needs to be heard.

Especially by our youth. David got sober at the age of 16. Imagine how

bad it had to have gotten for it to have progressed to that point of surrender

at such a young age.

David is still sober now over a decade and a half later. He has much to offer. Has extensive knowledge in this disease, treatment and recovery, music, performing in environments on tour where everyone was using and he stayed clean, currently working on his Ph.D. in music, produces, creates, teaches and performs music.

It was music that gave David the time he needed to enter recovery long enough to decide on continuing pursuing his musical creative outlets and recovery, together.

The other thing I love about David, in his limited spare time he devotes his creative direction by producing new bands sometimes for free. And now, for us here at Dear Addict. He is just wrapping up 3 albums between tasks and had a chance to drop us a note. He is here to stay and next Issue will be exciting to see what he brings to us. Here is what he had to say;

====================================================================

Dear Addict 1 Sept 1, 2009

Hello to all you lovely addicts!

This week we are going to discuss the idea of music and recovery. I stopped using drugs and alcohol when I was 16 and shortly turned to music to help distract me from losing my best friend. Although my 12 step programs were helping, there was still something missing in my life and shortly I found out that it was a creative outlet. I was finding that my 12 step programs where just not enough. I needed a hobby or something to keep my brain and body active.

So I started the drums! My parents where just happy that I was off drugs, alcohol and going back to high school so they did not mind. I went nuts! I found local guys to play with like guitarists, bassists, pretty much anyone who was willing to lock themselves in a room with me and make noise, lots of noise. It was a workout. I would sweat for hours then go to a meeting. Come home bang away then another meeting. After my late night meeting I would go to see bands play in clubs, go home to wake up and do it all over again. This became my life, my recovery, my god!

I have 17 years clean and sober and make a living in the music business and owe this is all do to my 12 step programs!

The ideas I would like to address to you in this discussion are ...What is your relationship with music? Is there a type of music that comforts you? If so, then what? Have you ever thought about playing some type of musical thing? What song do you feel would best represent your life pre active addiction and what song post?

Maybe you could play music when you start to get that itch instead of sitting there and letting that "I want more" itch slowly take over. Its was not easy for me to quit using and I know it is not easy for you but playing music helped me distract my itch long enough to get to my next meeting. I think it could work for you!

Till next time, hang in there, 

Dave

============================================================================

Oh, and did I happen to mention he's my younger brother? 

That's right, siblings in Recovery together and still play fight together. Despite the decade in age difference. It was David who gave and taught me the benefits sobriety can give you. That sobriety offers endless new opportunities and not to take my self so seriously. Watching his spiritual growth over time, I learned to trust that I too maybe could find faith, not religion but Faith. David is quiet, hilarious mind you, but I learn by watching his good heart and truthful, giving soul. I wish just once he could see himself through my eyes.

Of course none of this work with Dear Addict would be beneficial to David had he not now be given another outlet to play prank jokes on me. It will be an interesting ride, but as I said, come along, we'll go together. 

David I am so proud of you and thank you for coming on board and sharing your experiences (just not the really, well, you know, oh, whatever Dude). And I made a deal with him I wouldn't change a word of his, so, 

game on bro, game on.

Stay safe and stay trying, just keep trying

You are no longer alone.

Ciao

Kimberly Gray

Dear Addict

www.dearaddict.ca