From the Land of Oz to our neighborhoods, this beautiful and seductive flower is putting young people to sleep–some never to awake again.

When I noticed one particular day, not too long ago, that 8 out of 13 of our clients were heroin addicts, I knew I couldn’t look the other way. I have become obsessed with identifying predictors for this monstrous addiction and seemingly hopeless recovery rate. Plus, as many of you know, it’s not my nature to look the other way! I once heard a wise person say, "You are either a part of the Solution, or you are a part of the Problem!"

I remember the day I shared an article I had written on heroin with one of our heroin addicted clients. The cover page of my article was: Heroin: The Killer Among Us! This Paper Is Dedicated To The Following People Who Were Killed By Heroin. With tears in her eyes, her response to the list of people that followed was, "Lois, I knew 12 of the 14 people on that list." Need I say more?

"We are either a part of the Solution, or we are either a part of the Problem." The choice is up to you. My commitment to each and everyone of you is that I will be an active part of the Solution.

–Lois Jordan

Lawmakers were reacting to studies indicating nearly 90% of adult smokers get hooked before they reach 18 years of age.

The legislation by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and Rep. Hugo Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, requires that proof of age be presented by anyone under age 27 trying to purchase tobacco. Smokers aged 21 to 27 may go ahead and buy their smokes, but not without showing an ID.

The legislation prohibits distribution of coupons or free samples of tobacco products, as well as selling cigarettes in quantities of less than 20 cigarettes per pack, which would be cheaper and easier for kids to purchase.

Retailers face fines of $500 if they are caught selling tobacco products to youngsters, with the legislation providing for surprise inspections by employees of the Comptroller’s office. Retailers are also required to train employees not to sell to minors, to keep records on their training programs, and to purchase permits to sell tobacco products. Revenue from the permits may be used for enforcement efforts and tobacco awareness programs.

"Retailers have a responsibility," Berlanga said.

by: Cliff Heegel

In my private practice as a psychologist, I work with many people who seek intimacy, but fail for various reasons. This article will address sex and love addiction in cyberspace.

Personal computers have revolutionized the way we perform many functions in our lives. Naturally, like everything we humans do, we use computers for both constructive and destructive purposes.

In recent years in my work with sex addicts, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of persons acting out sexually through the use of their computers. Sex and love addiction is growing and thriving in cyberspace.

There are many types of sexual acting out that exist on the Internet. By far the most prevalent form of sexual acting out consists of the viewing of pornographic images purchased from Internet porn shops. There are tremendous numbers of Internet porn shops that offer every type of pornography. Users of the Internet can browse sample images from their home computer; and then, using their credit card or debit card, charge a membership fee that allows them to download thousands of explicit images onto their own home computers. They can then view these hardcore images whenever and wherever they have a computer. With the right equipment, they can even print these images to create their own private porn magazines. They can copy these pornographic image files to floppy disks to distribute to others. They can even e-mail the files across the world.

The love addict has not been left out of the world of cyberspace addiction. Perhaps the easiest way for a love addict to act out is through the use of on-line chat. Chat is a connection in which users type messages to one another. The messages appear on screen almost instantly. A love addict can create a totally fictitious identity on-line.

Often, users do not know each other’s real name or where the other person even lives. Thus, love addicts can establish incredible fantasy relationships with persons they have never even seen or to whom they have never spoken. The speed of the communication, along with the safety of being in different locations, allows a user to go beyond the boundaries of propriety very easily.

Like any other high adrenaline activity, these cyber-sex and cyber-love encounters can be highly addictive. Some persons end up spending thousands of dollars and most of their free time on Internet sex and love. Many partners have been shocked when the credit card bill comes in and there are outrageous charges to Internet sex businesses. And many partners have been ignored while the addict acted out on-line with someone in a different place.

Some of the rationalizations I have heard include: "It isn’t infidelity because we don’t actually touch one another." "All I do is look at images on my computer… What is wrong with that?" "I can’t get AIDS or anything else through my computer. This is safe." "My partner is asleep and not interested in sex tonight, so it is O.K. for me to do this on the computer." "It isn’t hurting anyone or costing me anything, so what is the problem?"

There are ways to stop. The best course of action involves participation in a local sex and love recovery group. If that isn’t possible, there are also on-line sex and love recovery resources. A way to stop the acting out is to pull the plug on the Internet connection. If that isn’t practical, then there is software available that can be programmed to prohibit access to X-rated Internet activities. This software, if programmed by a trusted friend or family member, can effectively limit the addict’s access to Internet acting out.

While stopping the acting out is needed and important, it is more important to address the roots of dissatisfaction that underlie sex and love addiction. Most cyber-sex and cyber-love addicts are lonely, bored, or in some sort of emotional pain. However, sexual acting out does not eliminate the roots of loneliness, boredom, or pain. In reality, acting out only deepens the gulf that lies between the addict and intimacy.

Sometimes working a 12-step program is enough. Other times, psychotherapy can be helpful. Occasionally, there is a genuine biochemical imbalance that needs to be altered through the careful use of diet, exercise, or perhaps even medication.

Cyber-sex and cyber-love addiction will be with us for some time. The technology of Internet makes it too easy and accessible. As long as there is a market, the Internet porn shops will thrive. However, addicts need not suffer the ravages of this addiction. There is hope and there is recovery, both in cyberspace and in real life.