August 11, 2023 at 5:45 a.m.

Northwoods Recovery

A real-life horror story

By Jeff Frye, Special to the River News

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in a series of columns on recovery in the Northwoods.


Living and working in our great Northwoods, every day I’m feeling endless gratitude to be recovering from drug addiction here. Surrounded by hundreds of pristine lakes, boundless forests and supportive friends, I have the wherewithal necessary to grow and enrich my recovery.

But heartbreak is found here as well. To my abiding sorrow, too many of my former associates are still mired in their addiction nightmare.

I met Tanya, (not her real name) a Rhinelander native, nearly 20 years ago while on a dope-fueled vacation in Mexico. As years went by we stayed in touch, occasionally doing some illicit business together. Contact was dropped by mutual consent after I was charged with drug felonies and my recovery commenced. But I understood through friends that her downward spiral into increasingly destructive behavior continued, culminating in repeated meth-related arrests over the last few years.

So it was no surprise to see her at one of my recovery lectures. Recently released from jail but facing additional charges and more time behind bars, she had hopes a stint in rehab might mitigate her upcoming sentencing. Detoxing in jail had been beneficial; clean and sober, a definite improvement. She talked hopefully about maintaining sobriety after her legal troubles were behind her.

A call was promised after she finished rehab, but that was the last I heard from Tanya until her name surfaced in the Oneida County Court Report.

My worst fears for her were realized; multiple meth-related charges as a repeat offender.

Even with my own life-long substance abuse battle I still find addiction’s power incomprehensible; the grip it holds over otherwise intelligent people almost terrifying. A real-life horror story playing out every day right here in Rhinelander, crushing lives and causing families endless misery.

Although like all us addicts deeply flawed, Tanya is far from a malevolent person; certainly not beyond redemption. Self-victimized by years of dreadful choices, the prison cell she almost certainly will find herself in — again — is merely symbolic of her real prison; addiction to meth.

Tanya has me praying for one more miracle; that one day in the future I'll see her clean and sober once again, ready to begin the hard work of repairing the damage addiction has done to herself and her community.

That day must come, so that by taking her place in our Northwoods recovery culture Tanya can demonstrate to Rhinelander that we do recover.

Do you think you may have a problem with alcohol? Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call our Hotline at (715)360-4637 or visit our website at www.northwoodsaa.org for questions or to find a meeting in your area.


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