Rob Kent, Esq. writes from nearly 20 years of work in state and federal drug policy, including his time as general counsel at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In this Harm Reduction Series article, he explains how witnessing preventable loss changed his view of harm reduction and strengthened his belief in the full continuum of care. His central question is direct: how can we help people stay alive and get better?

ADHD and substance use disorders often travel together, and Dr. Lauren Grawert explains why that overlap is not simply a coincidence. Drawing on genetic, clinical, and treatment research, she describes shared risk, the dangers of untreated ADHD, and the importance of coordinated care. The article also challenges the idea that ADHD treatment should wait until substance use is fully in remission, offering a more integrated path for better recovery and functional outcomes.

Kristen Crisp’s Author of the Month article tells the devastating story of her sister Robin, whose education, professional success, and social standing did not protect her from alcohol addiction. With blunt honesty and grief, Kristen describes the warning signs, the family history of drinking, the trauma and loss that intensified Robin’s use, and the painful truth that addiction does not discriminate.

Tim Lineaweaver remembers hearing that addiction is progressive as a warning, then discovering a more hopeful truth: recovery can be progressive too. In this personal reflection, he traces the shift from alcohol offering relief to alcohol taking over, then describes the difficult first months of sobriety, the wreckage that had to be repaired, and the gradual return of health, hope, family, and purpose.

Kristen Crisp closes her Author of the Month series with a funny and uncomfortably honest look at what happens when a sober person steps back into a bar. From the awkward mocktail exchange to loud conversations, sloppy behavior, loneliness, aging, sadness, and social pressure, she describes a familiar alcohol-centered world through a very different lens.

Joshua Bennett-Johnson argues for harm reduction, naloxone, syringe services, safer-use tools, autonomy, and dignity in addiction care.

Nicole Runyon, Psychotherapist, recalls college memories through a song, then reflects on the gap between college promises and adult demands. She questions the idea that young adulthood is just for partying or delaying responsibility. Runyon emphasizes that this stage is vital for development. She advises parents that preparing children for adulthood involves nurturing resilience, purpose, imagination, responsibility, and real-life readiness.

Andrea Beck, Author and Emotional Recovery Coach, offers readers a compassionate way to understand Adult Child Syndrome without reducing it to a diagnosis or a defect. Drawing on her own experience growing up in an emotionally unpredictable environment, she describes the body-level patterns that can persist into adulthood. These patterns were learned for survival, and once you see them, you can begin to respond differently.