Addiction

With the morning chill, my body falls into consciousness. Something about this morningtriggered my awakening. Blinded by misery,I open my eyes to lightsindescribable. This powder brings me to life. I can smell it, taste it in the air. That sweet tingle on my skinas blood rushes through my limbs. Then there's the rush to the headafter one inhaleand I'm suddenly euphoric. Scream my joy to the skies. My drug of choice, only available during this time of year,is totally worth the wait.

julieg@herald-mail.com KEEDYSVILLE - Three big block Chevrolet engines sit atop Jody Hammond's modified tractor and a fourth sits behind his seat. Combined, they generate an estimated 2,900 horsepower and total more than 1,762 cubic inches though, ever the competitor, Hammond won't say how much more. The black and yellow dragster-style tractor recently had its payloader rear end and planetaries replaced with those of a truck tractor. Altogether, the parts amount to Addiction.

For many people who bought Powerball tickets before Wednesday night's $587.5 million drawing, two bucks might seem like a small investment. For some, that's what it is, but others see playing the lottery as gambling that, in some cases, could fuel an addiction. “I buy a ticket once a week, but I know how to handle it,” said Serita Cooper of Hagerstown. “I'm not addicted to it. I don't have to have it every day.” For others, the urge to buy lottery tickets could be an addiction, just as playing table games or slots can be, said Richard Benchoff, program director of Wells House Inc. in Hagerstown, which provides treatment to men with addictions.

When partying Paris Hilton wound up in the slammer she found Jesus - under a cot, probably - and announced to Barbara Walters via cell phone that, upon her release, she would dedicate her life to helping the children. Lindsay Lohan, the "Tinseltown Trainwreck," has yet to arrive at a similar epiphany, but it's coming, no doubt. Three rehabs in a year will do that to you. The children are always a default refuge for disgraced, drunken celebrities, but cancer patients, the environment, world hunger and AIDS victims are in the mix, too. Anything to show that the indisposed star cares about humanity - at least until the next bender.

  With the Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers set for Sunday, a lot of people will make bets, some friendly, some serious. Larry Stouter, owner of the Catoctin Counseling Center at 228 E. Washington St. in Hagerstown, said betting usually increases among social gamblers during the Super Bowl period, but those who are addicted find the annual sporting an excuse to place a wager. "There are a lot of people who gamble on the Super Bowl," he said.

Be aware of addictions that can take control of your life To the editor: I'm 88 years old now and in good health and glad I was able to quit smoking cigarettes at age 35. I think addiction to anything in life is something that happens to a person before they realize they are addicted. After we become an addict, it's too late to be aware of the danger of it. It's probably one of the worst things that we are prone to be caught up in, because it can ruin one's life and others around us. Listen, I've seen it happen to people and it's really a sad situation.

By TERRY TALBERT Staff Writer A 33-year-old Washington County woman pleaded guilty in Circuit Court Wednesday to soliciting for prostitution and was sentenced to the maximum one year in jail. Alissa Fall was charged after she allegedly solicited an officer at Walnut and Church streets in Hagerstown and agreed to perform a sex act for $40, police said. Circuit Judge Frederick C. Wright III ordered the sentence to run from the date of her arrest in July. She has been in jail since then.

Drug addition counselors aren't paid enough and Western Maryland needs more long-term residential recovery facilities, according to testimony during a Thursday public hearing on addiction treatment and prevention. Two existing facilities, the Massie Unit in Cumberland, Md., and the "W" House in Hagerstown, received high praise from recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who testified that they might not be alive if not for those programs. Thirty-six people including recovering addicts and health officials gave more than two hours of testimony at the hearing in the Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Community College.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Two people who run a chaplaincy program at Charles Town Races & Slots said last week they continue to stay busy helping track employees with addiction problems. Although chaplain Rick Mann said his program has helped track employees deal with alcohol, gambling and substance abuse in past years, he told the Jefferson County Commission last Thursday that the primary problem is alcohol abuse. Mann said he is working with about 25 people with addiction problems at the track.

To the editor: W House is a 501-3, publicly supported agency that provides services to chemically dependent women and their families. In our 15-year existence, W House has served more than 315 women. There are significant demands for services such as ours from our community. The epidemic of alcohol and other drug abuse that threatens our nation has many economic and social costs, but its cost to families is where it takes its greatest toll. No one raises a glass of alcohol, snorts a line of cocaine or pops an ecstasy pill with a toast: "Here's to addiction.

I'm an addict. There I've said it. I'm addicted to several things, but the one I'm talking about in this column is books. I am a voracious reader and that costs me money, time, a broader behind and a larger girth. None of the costs is really good for me, but I can't help it. Like I said, I'm addicted. Although I read books in a variety of genres, mysteries and historical fiction are my favorites. My favorite authors are James Patterson, W.E.B. Griffin and Jeff Shaara. (And Nelson De Mille, Ralph Peters, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Bernard Cornwell, Ken Follett …)

For many people who bought Powerball tickets before Wednesday night's $587.5 million drawing, two bucks might seem like a small investment. For some, that's what it is, but others see playing the lottery as gambling that, in some cases, could fuel an addiction. “I buy a ticket once a week, but I know how to handle it,” said Serita Cooper of Hagerstown. “I'm not addicted to it. I don't have to have it every day.” For others, the urge to buy lottery tickets could be an addiction, just as playing table games or slots can be, said Richard Benchoff, program director of Wells House Inc. in Hagerstown, which provides treatment to men with addictions.

A Washington County Circuit Court judge sentenced a pregnant woman to four years in prison after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary for stealing jewelry from her grandmother to support a drug habit. “To steal from your grandmother. That's pretty low,” Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. said before imposing a sentence of 15 years with all but four years suspended on Desirae Marie Churchey, 21, of 4209 Mills Road Sharpsburg. Churchey's boyfriend, Cory Ryan Butts, was in court last week, pleading guilty to criminal conspiracy, theft and a handgun charge.

The first of serial rapist Pov Srun's known crimes became the last to be prosecuted when the former Hagerstown man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court to the 1998 rape of a Smithsburg woman. "I deserve to never breathe another free breath," said Srun, who pleaded guilty to first-degree rape. Washington County Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. sentenced Srun to 85 years in prison.   "I want to apologize to everyone in this wonderful country for my selfish behavior," Srun said, reading from a hand-written statement.

Be aware of addictions that can take control of your life To the editor: I'm 88 years old now and in good health and glad I was able to quit smoking cigarettes at age 35. I think addiction to anything in life is something that happens to a person before they realize they are addicted. After we become an addict, it's too late to be aware of the danger of it. It's probably one of the worst things that we are prone to be caught up in, because it can ruin one's life and others around us. Listen, I've seen it happen to people and it's really a sad situation.

  With the Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers set for Sunday, a lot of people will make bets, some friendly, some serious. Larry Stouter, owner of the Catoctin Counseling Center at 228 E. Washington St. in Hagerstown, said betting usually increases among social gamblers during the Super Bowl period, but those who are addicted find the annual sporting an excuse to place a wager. "There are a lot of people who gamble on the Super Bowl," he said.

When it comes to addictions, the perception is that drugs and alcohol are the usual suspects. But what happens when the drug of choice is sex? Celebrity scandals and the latest in reality TV fare such as "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew" chronicling celebrities' challenges with recovery and begs the question: What makes something an addiction? Or to put it plainly: Is sex addiction a legitimate addiction? "I definitely think it's valid," said Courtenay Chamberlin, clinical social worker at Behavioral Health Services of Washington County Hospital.

Al-Anon/Alateen groups Hagerstown and Frederick, Md. area. This is a group for anyone affected by a family member's or friend's drinking. Call 301-663-6626. Alcoholics Anonymous Washington County area. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, call 301-733-1109. Nicotine Anonymous For anyone with a desire to quit using tobacco products. Based on the 12-step program. Meets weekly in Hagerstown, no dues or fees. Call Bev at 301-842-1053 for meeting time and location.

o Jefferson Co. residents to vote on table games o Lawmaker changes stand on table games o Racetrack officials: Table games would bring jobs to Jefferson County CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Two years after three West Virginia counties voted to allow table games at area casinos, community leaders say their fears of crime and addiction were all for naught, unlike hopes for jobs and revenue. Voters in Hancock, Ohio, and Kanawha counties passed a measure allowing table games in the summer of 2007 after months of public debate.