Stories of Addiction

Professor Kathleen Ayers-Lanzillotta 

Professor Kathleen Ayers Lanzillotta, coordinator of the Chemical Dependency Counselor Program at Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NY, briefly discusses the importance of breaking the stigma of alcoholism and addictive disorders so that those affected can get help more readily. Addiction is a progressive illness and often is the catalyst to other serious illnesses that may lead to death. Addiction can also strongly affect the lives of those closest to those afflicted. She states, "For every one person struggling with an addiction problem, it seriously affects the lives of four other people."