The fight against fentanyl addiction is a journey marked by resilience, setbacks, and hard-fought victories. For four women, the path to recovery has been anything but linear. Their experiences reflect the broader crisis gripping America, where addiction touches millions of lives.

At 39, Crystal Quigley knows both triumph and turmoil. She was two years sober before relapsing on illicit fentanyl.

“I threw away all I had going for myself because I never felt worthy of my accomplishments,” she wrote in a heart-wrenching letter to CNN. “I didn’t know how to be comfortable sober.”

Her battle with addiction began over a decade ago with meth and heroin. When fentanyl flooded the streets, she tried to avoid it but ultimately succumbed.

“I’ve overdosed probably two dozen times,” she admitted, recalling how her mother once found her unconscious in the bathroom and called 911.

A mother of five, Quigley longs to rebuild relationships with her children, especially her two sons, who refuse to speak to her. When CNN met her during her sobriety, she credited buprenorphine, particularly the injectable form Sublocade, for making her “feel more normal than ever before.”

Experts highlight buprenorphine as an effective treatment for opioid addiction. However, some doctors, like Dr. Paul Updike of Catholic Health in Buffalo, warn that it may not be as effective for fentanyl users long-term.

“Because fentanyl is so potent, buprenorphine often isn’t enough to sustain recovery,” Updike explained.

Despite two years of sobriety, Quigley eventually relapsed—a painful reminder of addiction’s relentless grip.

Marisa Delles, 26, knows the weight of guilt. “What kind of person uses while pregnant?” she asked herself. But addiction is rarely simple.

Growing up, she watched her mother struggle with opioid addiction, which eventually led to a fatal fentanyl overdose in 2022. Not long after, Delles found herself battling the same demons.

Her addiction escalated to the point where withdrawal felt unbearable. “I would wake up shaking, sweating, just trying not to be sick,” she recalled.

Then, she became pregnant.

Quitting fentanyl cold turkey was not an option. “It’s actually more dangerous to stop using if you’re already pregnant,” said Dr. Lauren Davidson, a neonatologist in Buffalo. “The baby can die inside the womb.”

After struggling with Suboxone, which didn’t curb her cravings, Delles turned to methadone—a stronger medication that helped her stay clean. She gave birth to a healthy son, Luca, who required monitoring for mild withdrawal symptoms but ultimately thrived.

Three years later, Delles has successfully weaned off methadone despite her doctor’s concerns. “It saved my life, but now it’s time to heal my body and mind,” she said.

At 39, Jen Gauthier has spent over a decade battling opioid addiction. Her descent began with a car accident in 2006 that led to a prescription for hydrocodone. When access to painkillers tightened, heroin became her next refuge, followed by fentanyl.

“Fentanyl doesn’t last long,” she explained. “Within four hours, you’re sick again.”

Like Delles, Gauthier found herself pregnant while using. She turned to methadone, which she credits with stabilizing her life.

“The cravings never fully go away,” she admitted. “But I’ve accepted that whatever I have to do to stay sober for my son, I will do it.”

Unlike Delles, Gauthier has no plans to wean off methadone. “It’s like treating diabetes with insulin—it’s just part of my life now.”

At 29, Britiny Mapp faces a new kind of horror on the streets of Kensington, Pennsylvania—”tranq.”

Tranq, a mix of illicit fentanyl and animal sedatives, is causing widespread devastation. “It’s rotting people’s bodies,” Mapp said. “You get sores all over.”

Her addiction started in her teens with prescription opioids after a sports injury. College introduced her to heroin, which later turned into fentanyl and, ultimately, tranq.

While methadone helps with fentanyl withdrawal, it doesn’t treat the effects of tranq. “We don’t have a reversal drug for it like Narcan,” Mapp explained.

Five years into living on the streets, she is unsure how to escape. Friends and family still reach out on Facebook, pleading for her to come home. “I don’t check it because it gets me too emotional,” she admitted.

Still, she wants people to understand one thing: “We’re not bad people. No one gives up their kids, their homes, their jobs for no reason. Addiction is bigger than us.”

The fentanyl epidemic remains a national tragedy, but as these stories show, recovery is possible with the right support.

If you or someone you know needs help, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Source: CNN – A way out: Life after fentanyl is full of hope and heartbreak for these four women

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St. Patrick’s Day in Boston is famous for its lively celebrations and an abundance of alcohol, but this year, a growing number of people are opting for a different kind of holiday experience. While bars like The Burren continue to pour more Guinness than almost anywhere else in the U.S., owner Tommy McCarthy is stocking up on nonalcoholic options to cater to a new crowd of revelers looking for a sober celebration.

A Tradition of Irish Heritage and Heavy Drinking

St. Patrick’s Day is deeply tied to Boston’s history. The city was the first in the U.S. to host a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in 1737, marking a moment of support for Irish immigrants. Over the centuries, however, the holiday became synonymous with heavy drinking, particularly in the city’s bustling Irish bars.

But while this tradition persists, there’s a small but growing movement of people who are taking part in the festivities without alcohol. Nonalcoholic beers, mocktails, and even sober spaces are becoming more common across Boston, allowing people to join the parades, festivals, and banquets without the buzz.

The Rise of Sober St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Jackie Taylor, who has been sober for 12 years, explains how she’s managed to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day without the risk of overindulgence. “St. Patrick’s Day is a huge drinking holiday. It’s promoted everywhere,” Taylor says, but she’s found ways to celebrate—whether out on the town or at home—that don’t involve alcohol.

At The Burren, an Irish bar just outside Boston, nonalcoholic options have become increasingly popular. McCarthy, a lifelong Guinness drinker, even prefers a nonalcoholic version when he plays the fiddle during the bar’s 10-hour Irish music shows. “You get the taste of the real Guinness without the alcohol. It kind of beats all,” he says.

A Cultural Shift: Young People Drinking Less

The demand for nonalcoholic drinks isn’t just a passing trend—it reflects a larger cultural shift. According to Gallup polling in 2023, adults under 35 are drinking less than they did in the early 2000s, with fewer young people drinking regularly or saying they drink “more than they think they should.”

Michelle Flynn, manager at the Brendan Behan Irish pub in Jamaica Plain, Boston, has noticed this change firsthand. “The neighborhood, society, everything has shifted a thousand percent, especially with the youth,” she says. Bars and pubs are now serving more nonalcoholic beers than ever before, signaling a broader societal shift toward healthier lifestyles.

Mocktails: The New Trend in Cocktail Culture

Michael Scelfo, owner of four Boston-based cocktail bars, noticed a major increase in demand for mocktails post-pandemic. While his bars have always offered alcohol-free cocktails, they have become a crucial part of the menu in recent years. “It’s really an expected and formidable part of the menu now,” Scelfo says, with bartenders putting just as much care into creating mocktails as they do traditional cocktails.

Refocusing St. Patrick’s Day on Heritage, Not Alcohol

One person who’s pushing for a sober St. Patrick’s Day is William Spencer Reilly, founder of the “Sober St. Patrick’s Day” event in New York City. This alcohol-free celebration, featuring Irish bands, dancers, and food, started nearly 15 years ago and may soon make its way to Boston. Reilly believes that refocusing the holiday on Irish heritage—rather than the alcohol—is a way to honor St. Patrick and counteract harmful stereotypes about Irish people.

“The perils and pitfalls of alcohol are well-documented,” says Scelfo, pointing to the health and wellness movement among young people today. “We’ve got an intelligent young generation that’s focused on health and wellness. And I think that’s a great thing.”

Reilly is now in talks with local Boston leaders to bring his sober event to the city next year, believing there’s finally enough support to make it a success.

A New Way to Celebrate

As Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations evolve, it’s clear that the holiday is no longer just about drinking. From nonalcoholic beer and mocktails to sober spaces and events, more people are choosing to celebrate in ways that focus on health, heritage, and community rather than alcohol.

Whether it’s sipping a mocktail at The Burren or attending a sober St. Patrick’s Day event, the shift reflects a broader desire for mindful celebration. The days of “drinking to excess” might be fading, but the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day—of community, tradition, and Irish pride—remains as strong as ever.

Source: AP News – Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day may be known for a boozy good time, but more are opting to forgo the buzz

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Legendary musician Elton John has voiced strong opposition to the legalization of marijuana, calling it a “major mistake” in an interview with Time magazine as part of their Icon of the Year coverage.

Elton John on Marijuana’s Risks

“I maintain that it’s addictive,” John said, reflecting on his own past struggles with substance abuse. “It leads to other drugs. And when you’re stoned—and I’ve been stoned—you don’t think normally.”

The singer went as far as to label the legalization of marijuana in the US and Canada as “one of the greatest mistakes of all time.”

A Personal Perspective on Addiction

Elton John’s stance is rooted in his own journey of sobriety, which spans decades. His dedication to helping others in similar battles is well-known; he has served as a sponsor for rapper Eminem and facilitated English pop star Robbie Williams’ first stint in rehab.

However, not every effort has been successful. John expressed deep regret over his inability to help the late George Michael, who struggled with substance abuse and died at 53 due to heart and liver disease in 2016.

“It’s tough to tell someone they’re being an ahole, and it’s tough to hear,” John admitted. “Eventually, I made the choice to admit that I’m being an ahole,” he said, alluding to his own turning point toward recovery.

The Toll on Creativity and Relationships

John’s longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin recalled how the singer’s substance abuse impacted their creative work and friendship. “I was terrified for him. It was absolutely horrible,” Taupin said.

“A lot of the work we did when he was at his worst wasn’t the best of both of us. I couldn’t creatively invest in writing material that reflected him until he found himself. Once he did, everything became easier.”

A Message of Sobriety

Through his candid reflections, Elton John continues to emphasize the dangers of addiction and the challenges of recovery. His opposition to marijuana legalization stems not only from his experiences but also from his dedication to helping others overcome substance abuse.

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