The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
Addictions can be isolating and full of despair for those who suffer and frustrating for families who are watching a loved one fall victim to a substance. In this section are stories of hope from lay Catholics who are recovering alcoholics, a family who advocates for transparency after the loss of their son to an accidental prescription drug overdose, a man recovering from a pornography addiction who began a ministry to help others and religious who leaned on recovery and God to overcome their addictions. Psychologists also discuss the root of addictions and one of the most prevalent addictions – why we can’t seem to put down our Smartphone.
Kelly Marschewski Lasseigne came home late one night, dancing around her home, setting off the burglar alarm. She had at least three to four beers with friends, a couple of martinis, possibly a shot or two. The memory of that night is fuzzy. She doesn’t remember the Uber ride home or coming inside. What she does remember is the fear it caused her children and husband.
It was Jan. 5, 2019.
Cheryl, who preferred to not use More... 
In 2004, the Catholic High School football players lined up on the field for senior night, each holding a flower for their mother, who walked on the field to them.
“They announced me and Danny comes running off the field to me, picks me up, hugs me and that was Danny,” said Kim Rankin of their only son, with Dan Rankin adding, “You guys walked back. The other boys were too embarrassed. The whole stadium up More...
One priest said his rock bottom moment came after eating pot — not baked, but straight marijuana. Before he was a Benedictine, this monk passed out drunk after turning on his stove, causing the fire department to knock down his door.
Another priest confessed he did not have a “fall off the altar” moment, but it was the steady stream of vodka that controlled his life.
Each has walked the road to recovery, before and during their More...
With every text alert, social media scroll and video binge on YouTube, the brain is changing.
According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 81 percent of Americans go online daily, with 28 percent going online constantly and 45 percent several times a day. With top social media platforms, three-quarters of Facebook users and six in 10 Instagram users visit the sites daily, Pew stated.
Drs. George and Sherry Simon, clinical psychologists and members of Christ the More...
At 9 years old, Mark Ives first saw pornography at his uncle’s gas station, a book an employee brought. He fits in with today’s demographic — children on average are exposed to porn around the age of 7.
For the next 44 years, he dealt with the painful reality of pornography addiction, something he hid from his wife and the world. It took honesty with himself, in his marriage and most importantly with God to move More...
For someone who does not suffer from an addiction, understanding why a person cannot simply quit harming themselves on their own can be confusing and infuriating.
According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health through the federal agency Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 20.3 million people 12 or older had a substance use disorder, with alcohol or illicit drugs.
Warning signs
Drs. George and Sherry Simon, clinical psychologists in Little Rock since More...
There are several resources for addictions available to Arkansans.
Alcohol and drugs
• Catholic Charities of Arkansas list of local drug and alcohol treatment centers; dolr.org/catholic-charities/alcohol-drug-ministry/resources
• The Calix Society of Central Arkansas; dolr.org/article/calix-society-alcoholics-seeking-healing; (501) 960-0421 or e-mail calix@dolr.org
• Alcoholics Anonymous Arkansas (Central); arkansascentraloffice.org/meetings; Hotline, (501) 664-7303
• Al-Anon (for families or friends of alcoholics); arkansasalanon.org
• Arkansas Regional Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous; arscna.org; (800) 338-8750
• Arkansas Take Back list of drug recovery services; artakeback.org/wellness/recovery; (501) 618-8175 (main number)
• More...
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