At this point in American history, perhaps it is time to take a step back, survey the body count, the direction in which we are heading, and change our approach. It is now that we must finally recognize addiction as a public health problem, and that for too long we have misclassified it as criminal activity and over-relied on law enforcement officials to do the work of doctors, counselors, and other health professionals. Those among us struggling with addiction need to be embraced- not inacarcerated.

Use this site as a reference. Study the life stories and portraits presented here as you would an academic text. These men, women, and children- whether addicted, convicted, or elected- are inspiring individuals, struggling against all odds, doing their best to stem the growing tide of unacceptable losses.