It’s like being hit by a car. We are in shock. We struggle to access our best reasoning skills. We are coming to terms with the problematic substance use (or other addiction) of someone we love. With few exceptions, friends…

Is it the mess or the message that shines a light on recovery? 

This musing is an alternative to reductionist thinking that pervades our recovery community discourse. Who’s heard or said, “Carry the message—not the mess"? There’s some…