Since our founding in 1967, Duffy’s has consistently implemented and utilized the 12 step approach from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs.
“Hi, my name is Katie and I’m an alcoholic and addict. Thank you for inviting me to share my experience, strength and hope. I’m a little nervous—a lot nervous, actually. This is a new experience for me. Here goes nothing… My beginnings I was raised in a fairly affluent family. My Dad was an alcoholic that … Read More
There are those who would argue that addiction is a choice, and not a disease. There are those who would tell you that it’s simply a matter of choosing to stop—they say an alcoholic can put the bottle down at any time, and simply walk in the other direction. The people who speak these misguided statements have … Read More
Some were just too scary: heroin, meth, LSD and ecstasy, to name a few. Pills though—prescription pills, didn’t fall into the “scary” category in my alcohol-pickled mind. Made in pharmaceutical plants and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, stuff like narcotic capsules, tablets and liquids seemed like a pretty safe bet. I had discovered that alcohol alone … Read More
When the principles of 12-Step recovery began to seep into my everyday life, I also learned to appreciate how my new way of living had enabled me to cope with life’s other challenges. My earliest challenge in recovery was simple: not drinking. Nothing else mattered. I knew, that if I picked up a drink, all … Read More
As a child we accept most everything around us as normal. We just don’t know or can’t perceive the difference. Mommy and Daddy love us, only sometimes they don’t. Mommy and Daddy make sure we have meals to eat and clean clothes to wear; only sometimes they don’t. Mommy and Daddy praise my art work … Read More
“The people he met, the places he passed, were all steps in his journey, and he kept a place inside his heart for each of them.” –Rachel Joyce Samuel—a blacksmith Samuel is a blacksmith. His hands are gnarled and permanently gray. For years he has watched as horses trot toward him and away from him. … Read More
I recently finished re-reading 12 Stupid Things that Mess Up Recovery by Allen Berger, a recovery classic for people in early recovery. I almost forgot what a great book it was. Allen Berger condenses twelve common pitfalls that can mess up recovery and teaches us how to avoid them with the clarity and wisdom of a man with … Read More
How do you select an alcohol & drug addiction treatment center? Selecting a treatment program that best suits the values, needs and personality of your loved one who is struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction can take hours of research and thoughtful consideration. First, it’s stressful because we’re talking about the quality of life … Read More
Salon recently published a stellar article in defense of the spirituality of Alcoholics Anonymous. In several poignant paragraphs, this article reminds us of the purpose of the 12 steps, clarifies the third step in light of the third tradition. For people at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous do not speak of drinking, they talk about living: about living … Read More
In the first episode of The Grant, a series of short talks by Gene Duffy, Gene talks about cost of Alcoholics Anonymous. We all know Alcoholics Anonymous is a free program, but that doesn’t mean the program requires nothing of its members whatsoever. There is no cost for attendance, but there is a cost of attention, … Read More
