ABSTRACT
Dr Phil Lincoln was addicted to drugs and alcohol in college and throughout his residency training. In the years leading up to sobriety, he could not picture an existence without them. He firmly believed he needed substances to have fun, to relax, to quiet his thoughts and deal with life’s challenges. Giving up substances totally seemed impossible. With encouragement from friends and the accountability required by his program and the medical board, he was able to achieve sustained recovery and find ways to cope with feelings of guilt and shame. It turns out that his life in recovery is far better than he ever imagined it could be.
