Why is this acceptable?
Both Type-II diabetes and addiction are diseases that have genetic and lifestyle elements to them, which is why they are often compared when it comes to treatment. The parody below covers what it would...
View ArticleA Deeper Kind of Love
A guest post by Geri Barcheski, a loving mom who lost her son to addiction:I believe we are sent into each life time to learn and be taught very valuable lessons. Some we are reluctant to learn and...
View ArticleDeeper than the hurt
Deeper than the hurtBy Rose BarbourThis can’t be happening to usIt seems so unfairA home full of loveHow did it get in here?Claimed by a diseaseRuthless and coldMy child is in a dark worldWhere souls...
View ArticleA True Champion: Dr. Leo Killorn
If you live in PEI and have any experience with addiction, you most likely recognize the name Dr. Leo Killorn, which often comes up in conversations around treatment. He ran the Alcohol and Drug...
View ArticleMerry Christmas
On this Christmas Eve I am feeling so much joy that it makes me teary-eyed. I am walking around singing Christmas carols and enjoying the true spirit of the season. My mind is free of worry and my...
View ArticleMy Methadone Story by Elizabeth A. Clark
This is a guest post by Elizabeth A. Clark, a lady in long-term recovery on methadone. She is sharing her story in the hopes of educating about medication assisted treatment and to try to break down...
View ArticleAnniversary: Turning a negative into a positive
On January 1st, my blog will be two years old. The response to it was more than I ever could have imagined. Since I started it in 2013, it has been visited 181,000 times! That is 181,000 opportunities...
View ArticleWe Need YOU!
We Need YOU!By: Rose BarbourWe are in the midst of an epidemic, and things need to changeIt will take a big movement so we need you to engageYou can help by getting informed and spreading the...
View ArticlePlaying Doctor is a Deadly Game
When my husband and I first started out on this journey with our son, we didn’t know much about addiction. But, we did know that people could die from it, and that was enough to scare us half to death....
View ArticleAnthony's Act: A Loving Tribute
I received an email yesterday from Valerie Fiore, a mother who lost her son to addiction. So heartbreaking! She was wondering if I would write a poem about her son, Anthony. Gulp! My poetry comes from...
View ArticleSMART Recovery on PEI
I am happy to tell you that Islanders now have options when it comes to recovery programs. Like many others, our son did not care for 12-step meetings like NA. While they have helped millions of people...
View ArticleRock Bottom
Rock bottom is a sad and hopeless place where the tears flow freely and energy, peace and happiness are but a memory. I found myself there after years of dealing with my son’s addiction.I am a take...
View ArticleSilent Screams
Silent ScreamsBy: Rose BarbourThe storm clouds are all around herShe prays they’ll go awayThe blue sky of yesterdayIs now an ominous gray.The wind is picking upThrough the streets she roamsLooking for...
View ArticleSMART Recovery is growing!
We are so pleased to announce that we now have 3 SMART Recovery meetings in Queen’s County:Mondaysat 7:00 at the Reach Centre in StratfordWednesdaysat 7:00 at the Trinity United Church (Richmond Street...
View ArticleMama, Don't Give Up!
This song came to me one night. The words kept running through my head all day until I put them down on paper. While I write a lot of poetry about our family’s experience with addiction, this is the...
View ArticleUpdates and Opportunities
I can’t believe how long it has been since I last posted! Time certainly does fly by when you’re busy enjoying this beautiful gift of life.Although I hadn’t written in my blog for a while, I continued...
View ArticleWhen crazy ideas become reality!
What an exciting month it has been! I announced in August that the story I submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Possible had made it to the final selection round. I am so happy to tell you...
View ArticleA great success!
Left to right: Nicole Publicover, Roni Wakelin Power, Cheryl Roche, and Rose Barbour The Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Possible book launch and signing on Tuesday was a great success. Thank you to...
View ArticleHarm Reduction: A Family Focus (EVENT)
Harm Reduction: A Family FocusBecause it could be anyone's childRonnie Power and Rose Barbour are pleased to invite you to a powerful and important panel presentation entitled “Harm Reduction: A Family...
View ArticleGrieving Moms on Harm Reduction
Left to right: Ronnie Power, organizer and addictions advocate; Donna May, mumsDU panellist; Petra Schulz, mumsDU panellist; Barb MacKay, attendee; Rose Barbour, organizer and addictions advocate;...
View ArticleTime to say Good-Bye!
Dear friends and family,It is with a peaceful heart that I announce that on January 1, I will be saying good-bye to my advocacy work, and hello to the next chapter of my life. After five years of...
View ArticleThank you for walking with me
My friends,On this final day of my addictions advocacy work, I wanted to take the time to say thank you for being part of my journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours. Since I announced my...
View ArticleCan’t keep a passionate woman down
Dear friends,I am really enjoying my retirement from addiction advocacy work. You never know how time-consuming something is until you stop doing it! It was an amazing five years, though, and I have no...
View ArticleIf love was enough
If love was enoughBy Rose BarbourMy mother wasn’t June CleaverShe wasn’t meant to beMy childhood wasn’t perfectBut I knew she loved me.Her laughter would light up a roomShe was understanding and...
View ArticleGOOD NEWS IN 2021
Hello friends,It warms my heart to see how many people still visit my blog daily for support and inspiration. Thank you!I've been keeping busy since retiring from my advocacy work five years ago, and...
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