Journal Register News - Sober and Smiling, September 21, 2008

By Maryanne Kocis MacLeod, Journal Register News Service
Recovery from alcoholism is no longer a secret journey. In celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, Dev Garrett and Renee Palmer are sharing their success stories in the hope of reaching those in need, and encouraging those on the brink of disaster to enter residential treatment.

"Alcoholism is a disease, not a disgrace," said Palmer who oversees Wome for Sobriety, "Society tells us: 'Addicts are bad, Recovery doesn't work.' It's just not true. I've been sober for nine years, had zero relapses and life couldn't be better. I don't think I could ever go back there."

Lao Tzu once said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Well so does recovery, and for me the first step was going into treatment.