Addiction

Shawn's Husband Wants Her To Accept His Pot Smoking

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Shawn and her husband have been married for 20 years. He has always had a drinking problem, but now he's smoking pot daily, even after being prescribed pain pills. She wants him to stop drinking and smoking while she's around.

Marie Wants To Help Her Alcoholic Brother

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Marie and her brother grew up in a very troubled, broken home. Their neglectful mother was an alcoholic who spent time in prison, and that's when they lived with their strict father. Once released, their mother continued to drink, eventually dying from her alcoholism. Her brother is now angry and also an alcoholic. He works, is a father of two but still nurses his anger and resentment for his troubled past.

Dave's Wife Is Destroying The Family With Alcohol And Pot

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Dave has been married for four years. With three children, everything was fine until his wife started working part time. That's when she started staying after work to drink with her coworkers, then smoke pot, and even engage in sexting with one of his "friends".

Can Adam Trust His Addict Wife?

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

When Adam married his wife, her mother tried to warn him about the wild ride he was about to take. During the years, she has cheated on him, abused drugs, physically and mentally abused him, left him for another man and ended up in prison for drugs. He raised their two children the best he could.

Christine's Son Smokes Pot, Chugs Beer And Pops Xanax

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Christine's 26 year old son was using heroin and eventually stopped on his own. His GP prescribed Xanax for anxiety, as well as a prescription for marijuana! Now he's taking the Xanax, smoking the pot, playing video games, surfing the Net and drinking beer, daily -- but at least no heroin, for now.

Renee's Husband Blames Her For Everything When He's High

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Renee's husband smokes marijuana, and she's got to walk on eggshells after he's high because he gets very defensive and argumentative. He denies he has a problem, and even blames her for his use.

Joan Debates: Stay Or Leave Her Alcoholic Husband After 32 Years?

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Joan has been married for 32 years to a husband who has verbally, emotionally and sometimes physically abused her. He's also an alcoholic and smokes pot. She has filed for divorce and got a restraining order, but he wants to reconcile. She listed her demands, but he doesn't agree with them, especially the one where he must leave the woman he's shacking up with and get his own place in order to work things out.

Did Cigarettes And Alcohol Causes Jessica's Husband To Start Marijuana?

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

For 22 years Jessica's husband was addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. Now, at 5' 9" and 128 pounds, he smokes marijuana for relief. Though she has enabled him to continue this abuse, it’s gotten so bad that she's considering leaving, thinking he may be slowly killing himself while she stands by doing nothing.

Does Claudia Leave Her Drunken, Hungover Husband, Or Is This Her Life?

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Claudia and her husband have been married two years. For the first year she was sick of her husband, because he was always drunk. This past year he decided to only get drunk on weekends. Now whenever she wants to do something on the weekend, he's sick with a hangover, if not drunk. He knows she won't leave because she loves him, and he says if she leaves he would just die.

Rita's Gambling Is Causing Her To Lose Her Home

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Rita is a single mother of three and has hit rock bottom. Her friends took her for an evening of gambling, and despite her monetary problems, she was overcome by the rush of gaming. Now she cannot stop, borrowing here and there to gamble away. She's about to be evicted, and she and the children will be on the street. She's considering stealing, and doesn't know where to turn.

Mary's Husband Is Leaving Her .... Again

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 06:00:41 GMT

Mary's 56 year old husband says he's leaving her, again. Last time he left it was to spend quality time with his ex-wife in a motel room with alcohol and marijuana, but insists they didn't "do" anything. He never spends time with men his own age, but rather guys the ages of his sons. For ten years they lost their home and their boys due to drug use and she is getting so tired of it. She wants to know how to make it work -- OR wonders is it time to kick him out? What would you advise her?

Les's Alcoholic Husband Refuses To Give Up Pot, Despite Her Asthma

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:00:12 GMT

Les has been married to her husband for 9 years. He was an alcoholic and heavy pot user, but 2 years ago went through rehab for alcoholism. However, he refused to give up the pot. Now he has a prescription for the marijuana, and bought land in a neighboring state where it's legal to grow it. His "farm" is his passion, and he refused to stop smoking inside, even though she has asthma. She has filed for divorce, but can't get over the guilt of her not living up to "for better, for worse' and 'til death do us part." Thoughts?

Charles's Son Is Addicted To Oxycontin; His Wife Is An Alcoholic

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:41 GMT

Charles's oldest son is in his mid 20's and is struggling with an Oxycontin addiction. He realized his wife was drinking plenty, and asked her to go 30 days without a drink. She got on the defensive, but failed the 30 day test. He then asked her to drink only what he gave her, and again she failed. Now he's wondering if his son's addiction is due to his wife's addiction. Do you think a child is doomed to a life of addiction just because of a parent? Weigh in.

Barbara's Divorce Left Her With Nothing

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:00:16 GMT

Barbara has been going through a divorce for over six years. Now, after three attorneys and an enormous amount of money, she has nothing. She started drinking, mixing it with her prescription medication and is now addicted. She tried AA, but after 8 months she fell off the wagon. She asks if she can't afford rehab, what can she do? What do you think?

After 32 Years Of Drug Abuse, Phil's Wife Is Leaving Him

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:30 GMT

Phil has been married for 32 years and is father to three boys, ages 13 to 24. He is financially devastated due to a continued pot and meth addiction, despite his wife's objection. Now she has hired an attorney and is seeking a divorce. He asks if there's a way to save his marriage. What do you think?

Addiction Led Andrey To Found His Own Recovery Center

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:00:02 GMT

Andrey was an alcoholic and addict six years ago. It was only after laying in a hospital bed in a coma, with the doctors telling his parents and girlfriend he would not survive that he considered change. Then after his family's intervention, he realized something must be done and he began his road to recovery. Now he heads his own recovery program, offering hope and help to others. He feels his addiction was for a purpose and led him right where he is supposed to be. Has that ever happened to you?

Natalia Assumed Her Husband Would Outgrow Pot

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:15 GMT

When they met, Natalia wasn't bothered by her boyfriend's marijuana use. Now she's 27 and he's 36 and there's no sign of him letting up. He smokes and drinks daily, ignoring her and the house in the process. He lies, hangs out with much younger people and has no motivation to do anything without alcohol or drugs. Home improvements are non-existent. She blames herself for being too uptight and wonders if she should just accept her life as is. Well, should she?

Monica's Husband Needs To Go!

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:00:38 GMT

Monica has been married almost 15 years to an alcoholic and drug addict. After years of drinking, he was hospitalized for a month, with orders to no longer drink or abuse drugs. One day he was smoking pot, and included her 17 year old son. He treats them like they're burdens on him, and has become very mean. She wants to kick him out, but how does she handle the guilt? He only has 20 percent of his pancreas and is diabetic. Would you have trouble making him leave, or would the guilt stop you, too?

One More Drink And Lynn Could Die

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:00:07 GMT

Lynn met her boyfriend seven years ago and they were great drinking buddies. That is, until the day she ended up in the hospital. Doctors told her one more drink could kill her. She stopped then and there and never looked back. Her boyfriend, however, drinks, and she even has to clean up his mess, emptying out beer and vodka bottles and picking up the empties. He calls her unreasonable, all the while still drinking. She wonders if he truly loved her, would he put her sobriety and life at risk like this? Well, would he?

Andrea Wonders When To Talk To Her Recovering Fiance'

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:00:23 GMT

Andrea is engaged, and her fiancé has baggage and has lied many times to her in the past. Now he's away at his mom's house, detoxing from alcohol. She wonders when is the best time she should tell him her thoughts and her demands - now, and jeopardize his recovery? Or later, possibly making her miserable and full of resentment? What do you think?

Excuses Of The Alcoholic

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:12 GMT

Donna comes from an addict family. Her brother, an alcoholic, says he doesn't know he's buying alcohol until it's too late and he's drunk, then he realizes it the next day. She wants to know if this is possible -- do you know?

Understanding The Obsession Of Cravings

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:29:47 GMT

Thank you for sending the message that recovery requires a willingness to a process.

Getting Drunk Is Fantastic

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:00:03 GMT

When I was drunk life went on for everyone else and I didn't need to think or worry about anything. I wasn't sad, angry or hurt; I felt like a superhero.

I'm Just Too Old For This

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:00:46 GMT

She always thinks she has slept all night, when actually she has been up the whole night being very mean. I have called the police to take her to the hospital; they just turn her out in a few hours.

My Girlfriend Has Fallen Off The Wagon

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:00:54 GMT

Seven years sober then she starts drinking again and smoking marijuana. What can I say to her? What can I do?