I Quit Social Media and Lived to Tell
In this excerpt from the memoir I QUIT EVERYTHING, the Gen-X writer—a retired drummer and vocalist for several alt rock bands—reflects on the addictive nature of social media, and the liberation of signing off.
Addiction
Why Do We Smoke?
A longtime smoker reflects on the cultural history, appeal, and vilification of the cigarette—and why so many of us still light up, whether publicly or in secret, despite knowing its risks.
Drinking: A Success Story!
Badassery was something that eluded comic Amber Tozer as an overachieving teen. But as this excerpt from “Sober Stick Figure” reveals, she’d find a way—with a little help from her friends.
Who’s My Mother?
Raised by two different toxic maternal figures, the writer has spent her life looking for someone to nurture and guide her. And she found her in the most unexpected place.
Is Kratom a Natural Miracle Cure for Pain—or a Hallucinogenic?
People have been taking the plant for pain relief for centuries—and it’s less dangerous than Vicodin and Oxycontin. So why do legislators want to make it illegal?
The War on Drugs Is Too Harsh For White Users
In a plea that smacks of hypocrisy, Governor Chris Christie is asking us to go easy on a certain kind of person struggling with addiction: affluent White suburbanites.
Dear Julie: “My Best Friend Started Dating My Brother!”
DAME’s Friendkeeper untangles some family ties and helps an addict face the truth of a toxic friendship.
Can You Become Addicted to Your Vibrator?
For many of us, the sex toy almost guarantees a quick, easy orgasm. But is it the sexual equivalent of a microwave meal? Experts weigh in.
Amy Winehouse Couldn’t Help But Demonstrate Her Freudian Fate
The new haunting documentary, ‘Amy,’ has this psychotherapist theorizing about what could have set the late singer-songwriter on a path to self-destruction.
Did We Fail Bobbi Kristina?
Three years after Whitney Houston’s death, the singer's daughter was in the public eye more than ever. As this writer, who lost a parent, knows, unwanted exposure while grieving can be lethal.