Christopher Lawford talks about addictions at Valpo dinner

VALPARAISO | A “moment of grace” 27 years ago saved his life.

Christopher Lawford talks about addictions at Valpo dinner

Frontline Foundations client Eric Mercier smiles as his testimonial is projected on a screen Saturday during a Frontline Foundations fundraiser dinner at Valparaiso University.

Christopher Lawford talks about addictions at Valpo dinner

New York Times best-selling author Christopher Kennedy Lawford speaks about addiction on Saturday during his keynote speech at the Frontline Foundation fundraiser dinner.

Resolve to Quit Smoking in the New Year

It’s at the top of many New Year’s resolution lists — quitting smoking. In fact, 15 million people try to quit smoking cigarettes yearly. Only 5 percent succeed when they use no support or go cold turkey. Moreover, the average smoker will attempt to quit up to nine times before successfully …

Valpo mom turns addiction story into children's tale

VALPARAISO | Lisa Misch's son wanted to be a repair man when he grew up, working high in a cherry picker, fixing wires and cables.

Beyond booze: Addiction comes in many forms

In the hands of a person whose brain is wired for addiction, a poker chip or credit card can be as dangerous as booze or cocaine.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Youth gambling addiction could have lifelong consequences

Most of us see gambling as a way to have fun, but 1 in 10 gamblers develop a problem when it comes to controlling their gambling habits. Two percent of gamblers even develop pathological addiction symptoms. Gambling addiction is as real and as dangerous as being addicted to drugs or alcohol …

EDITORIAL: Invest in treatment, not just incarceration

Porter County's investment in a halfway house already has more than paid for itself. It is a wise investment, not just because of the dollars, but because it is a lifesaver.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Substance abuse, mental disorders affect everyone

More than 50 years after the American Medical Association declared alcoholism to be a disease, the American Society of Addiction Medicine has followed suit. ASAM recently said officially that addiction is a chronic disease of the brain. Will the public embrace this, or will it continue to st…

Schererville native tells his story of addiction, recovery

Chicago police kicked in the door of a Chinatown restaurant bathroom and found a nearly dead Ricky Montez on the floor. The Schererville-raised Montez, who once walked the halls of Lake Central High School in a letterman jacket stitched with patches lauding his athletic achievements, had overdosed.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Indiana will continue fight against tobacco use

Indiana joined the rest of the world Tuesday in celebrating World No Tobacco Day. This global health observation was created to teach people about the dangers of tobacco use and highlight public health efforts in the fight against the tobacco epidemic.

Quinn's budget plan cuts addiction services

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget would cut all addiction treatment funding for non-Medicaid clients and all addiction prevention funding in general, an Illinois Department of Human Services spokeswoman said.

Getting to the root of eating disorders

A husband-and-wife team in Northwest Indiana applies an addiction treatment model to eating disorders as well as utilizing traditional therapies.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Keep ITPC functioning to protect Hoosiers

This year represents the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the creation of Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency, an independent agency overseen by an expert, volunteer executive board that ensures the program operates in accordance with what scientific evidence base shows are…

MARK KIESLING: Senate fails its state twice in one week

Sometimes I wish the whole Indiana General Assembly would book rooms in Illinois and just stay there so they could avoid doing stupid things.

Craving for food can be addicting

Robin Oliver, 48, of Imperial, Mo., has lost and regained 40 pounds several times over the last 12 years.

Meth ring leader's girlfriend gets three years in prison

HAMMOND | In the five years Stacy Simpson dated meth trafficker Richard "Tricky" Kasper, she all but disappeared from the lives of her family and lost everything from custody of her children to her teeth.

Graphic images to cover cigarette packages soon

American cigarette packages will get their biggest facelift in history this year. Designed to escalate efforts to reduce smoking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will begin requiring realistic graphic images to cover half the surface of each package by June 2011. Some of the proposed i…

Family plays role in addictions

Like a pebble dropped in a pond, addictions create circles of impact for families and society, says Johann Farley, M.D., who is board certified in family medicine and addiction medicine. An expert on addiction and an adjunct professor at Indiana University Northwest, Farley treats patients w…

Side effects are bringing addicts to the doctor

When addicts seek treatment, they don't necessarily seek it for their addictions, according to doctors. It's often the side effects of the addiction, the physical results from being addicted—to nicotine, drugs, alcohol, whatever—that push an addict into a doctor's office. And sometimes, the …