By Timothy Loftus, Editor & Publisher | Sergeant Bluff Advocate
(SBA) - Addiction. A noun, meaning a compulsive need or strong habit, often associated with substance use or certain behaviors. The word itself conjures up images of suffering, darkness, and pain, a trap that sometimes feels inescapable. But the reality is that every person on the planet suffers from addiction in some form at some point in their lives. Whether it’s gambling, alcohol, narcotics, prescriptions, eating, shopping, sex, the internet, cell phone use, or any number of habits that pull at us in subtle ways, addiction wears many faces. It can even be as simple as collecting garden gnomes, Christmas ornaments, pets, antique glassware, or anything else that gives you a jolt of excitement or comfort. It is that urge to do something you know you probably shouldn’t but your brain whispers, “What the hell,” and encourages you to get that extra piece of carnival glass for your collection. I’m not saying all addictions are bad. Like many people, I have collections of things that matter to me, and I am constantly looking to add to them. So don’t read this commentary as someone preaching from a pedestal who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Addiction is part of the human condition. It can be good or bad depending on your point of view and how much control you have over it.
But some addictions carry a heavier weight. Adding a garden gnome to your yard isn’t something to be ashamed of, but other addictions have the ability to destroy lives. Some addictions can drag people into places so dark and overwhelming that life feels reduced to nothing more than the next fix. When someone is hurting deeply, trying to numb out trauma, fear, loneliness, or pressures they don’t know how to face, addiction can become the escape hatch they reach for. This is especially true with drugs, alcohol, compulsive spending, or sex. It can be even more suffocating during the holiday season, when expectations of joy, connection, and celebration collide with an addicted person’s private reality. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the weeks surrounding them often amplify shame and loneliness. While others gather around family tables, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditions, those struggling with addiction can feel more isolated than at any other time of the year. The pressure to appear “okay,” the emotional weight of unresolved family dynamics, and the abundance of triggers—from alcohol at holiday parties to old wounds resurfacing—can make the season feel like walking through a minefield. These holidays are often the time when people with addictions need the most support, understanding, and compassion simply to get through the day.
Addiction can be menacing in its silence. It waits, patient and opportunistic, and when a person’s guard is down, it steps in and takes control. The holidays, ironically, are when that guard is down the most. People feel obligated to be cheerful, to be present, to participate, and yet inside they may be fighting a battle no one can see. And because shame thrives in secrecy, many feel unable to ask for help right when they need it most.
But for every addiction, there are solutions. There are ways to regain control so that you are in charge of the addiction—rather than the addiction being in charge of you. And before anything else, it is important to emphasize that this commentary is not about shame. It is not about blaming or condemning anyone who struggles. It is not my place, or anyone else’s, to pass judgment. Judgment has never healed a single person. My place in this world, and the place of anyone who cares, is to offer compassion. To show people battling addiction that there is more to their lives than the next drink, the next pill, the next fling, the next purchase. To assure them that they are not broken beyond repair, and that help exists in many forms, including from people who have walked the same hard road and made it to the other side.
Addiction does not happen in isolation. It affects families, friends, coworkers, and communities. It causes worry, heartbreak, confusion, and sometimes anger because people often don’t understand the internal war an addicted person faces. But support systems—when they are patient and informed—can become powerful lifelines. And during the holidays, those lifelines matter even more. The person suffering may feel alone, but they are not. Even in the darkest moments, help exists, whether they realize it yet or not.
There are many ways a person can begin to get their addiction under control. I am not an addiction counselor or psychologist, but I have witnessed firsthand how people pull themselves out of that dark hole and begin living better lives. The first step, often the hardest, is admitting to yourself that something is wrong. It doesn’t have to be an admission to another person at first. Sometimes it starts quietly, even silently. A moment in the mirror, a moment of realization, a moment of acknowledging that life has become unmanageable. That acknowledgment is not weakness; it’s strength. It takes courage to face something that has taken root in your life and grown bigger than you expected.
Once that moment happens, the next step is finding someone to talk to. This might be a trusted friend, a spouse, a minister, or even a doctor. What matters is vulnerability, and vulnerability is frightening, but it is also freeing. Talking about addiction opens a door, and once the door is open, light begins to seep in. During the holidays especially, when emotions run high and loneliness deepens, reaching out can be lifesaving. Many people discover that the fear of talking is worse than the conversation itself. In most cases, the person they confide in has either battled something similar or knows someone who has. Compassion is far more common than judgment, despite what shame might try to convince you.
Support from family and friends can play a crucial role, but it must come without blame. Loved ones need to shift from frustration to understanding whenever possible. Instead of ultimatums, there should be conversation. Instead of anger, there should be curiosity. Instead of assuming, it helps to ask questions like, “How can I support you?” or “What do you need right now?” This matters every day of the year, but it matters even more around Thanksgiving and Christmas, when expectations can make someone feel like they're failing simply for hurting. People suffering from addiction aren’t trying to hurt those around them; they’re trying—often desperately—to quiet a pain that feels unbearable. Loved ones who approach the situation with empathy rather than accusation can help break the cycle of shame that fuels addiction.
For the addicted person, coping strategies vary from person to person, but a few universal truths tend to apply. You cannot heal in the same environment that fed your addiction. You cannot recover alone without connection. You cannot outrun what you refuse to face. These truths are not criticisms; they are compassionate reminders that healing requires change, support, and honesty.
One of the most effective ways to begin healing is through professional help. Therapy, whether individual or group-based, gives people tools to understand the root causes of their addiction. Addictions rarely exist without deeper emotional triggers. Trauma, loneliness, stress, depression, and anxiety often lie at the center of compulsive behaviors. A trained therapist or counselor can help unravel these layers in a safe, structured way. They help people learn coping mechanisms to deal with cravings, stress responses, and emotional pain without turning to harmful behaviors.
Medication-assisted treatment can also be transformative for individuals dealing with opioid or alcohol addiction. These medications don’t “replace” a drug; they stabilize brain chemistry, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and help restore emotional balance so that therapy and support can take hold. Medical professionals can guide people through these options and tailor treatment plans to their specific needs.
Group meetings—such as recovery support groups—are incredibly powerful because they build community. There is something profoundly healing about sitting in a room with others who understand exactly what you’re going through—no explanations needed. These meetings create an environment of honesty, accountability, and encouragement. People share victories, setbacks, doubts, and breakthroughs. They learn that relapse does not equal failure but is part of the learning curve for many. They learn that progress is measured in days, not perfection. And for many, these groups become “chosen families” during the holiday season, offering connection when biological families may be distant, strained, or triggering. Most importantly, they learn that they are not alone.
Recovery also requires rebuilding life piece by piece. It involves learning to tolerate discomfort without running from it. It involves creating routines that support stability and wellness. Many people benefit from replacing harmful habits with healthy ones—exercise, art, journaling, outdoor activities, or any passion that fills time and brings meaning. Even simple practices like better sleep, hydration, or mindfulness can calm the nervous system and reduce cravings.
Friends and family can also benefit from support groups designed specifically for them. Addiction strains relationships, and loved ones often carry guilt, confusion, or resentment. Learning how to support someone with addiction while maintaining their own well-being is crucial. These groups teach boundaries, communication skills, and self-care for those who want to help but don’t know how.
Spirituality—whatever form it takes—can also be a powerful anchor. For some, faith provides comfort and clarity. For others, spirituality may involve meditation, time in nature, or simply reconnecting with a sense of purpose. Addiction often thrives in emptiness, and spirituality fills that void with meaning.
One of the greatest misconceptions about addiction is that it reflects a moral failure. Addiction is not a character flaw. It is not a lack of willpower. It is a coping response, often a survival tactic that has spiraled out of control. When society stops treating addiction as a moral issue and instead views it as a human issue, it opens the door for healing. Shame isolates; compassion rebuilds.
The path to recovery is not linear. There will be setbacks, moments of doubt, and times when the old temptations whisper louder than new habits. But every day is an opportunity to choose differently. Every day is a victory, even the hard ones. Recovery is not defined by perfection but by perseverance. And during the holidays, choosing to stay the course—even if it means saying no to certain gatherings, reaching out for help, or simply holding on—is a monumental act of strength.
For anyone struggling with addiction right now, know this, you are not beyond saving. You are not alone. You are not unworthy of love or help. You deserve peace, stability, and a life that feels meaningful. There are people ready to walk with you—professionals, peers, family members, and complete strangers who have walked your path and want nothing more than to see you rise again.
And for those who love someone battling addiction, know also that you matter in this equation. Your support, patience, and understanding can be the difference between despair and hope. You do not have to fix your loved one—that is not your burden—but you can walk beside them without carrying their guilt or shame. You can be a light when their world feels dark.
Addiction is a formidable opponent, but it is not invincible. Recovery is possible. Healing is possible. Peace is possible. Even in the darkest moments, the desire for a better life flickers quietly inside. It is your job to protect that flicker until it becomes a flame.
And when the time comes to seek local services, meetings, or treatment centers, know that they are out there waiting. Help exists in many forms. And it exists for you.
Because you are worth saving.
If you think you or someone you know may have a problem with drinking check out the support groups listed below.
Siouxland Intergroup, Central Office
614 Cook Street, Sioux City, IA
MEETINGS IN AND AROUND
THE SIOUX CITY METRO AREA
SUNDAY
9:00 AM SPIRITUAL STEPS 3 & 11 SUNDAY GROUP (696390), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
9:00 AM CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY AT 9:00 AM, HAWKEYE 3 & 11 GROUP (165834), (O - HA) HAWKEYE 3 & 11 GROUP, ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 812 9611 3350
9:00 AM CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY AT 9:00 AM, SUNDAY 3& 11 GROUP (124431), (O - HA) SUNDAY STEPS 3 & 11, ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
9:30 AM SOMEONE CARES GROUP (127473), Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
9:30 AM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712) 454-4708 (O - SP)
10:30 AM SUNDAY 10:30am SPIRITUAL GROUP, Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (O)
10:30 AM SUNDAY MORNING SPIRITUAL GROUP (129811), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA
1:30 PM SECOND CHANCE GROUP (705007), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
7:00 PM FAITH WITHOUT WORKS 12 x 12 GROUP (660288), Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (C)
7:00 PM STEEL MAGNOLIAS GROUP (Ladies only) (663779), Faith Unites Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave, Sioux City, (O - L)
7:00 PM BOOKS & COOKIES GROUP (Joe & Charlie Tapes) (677097), Faith United Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
7:30 PM LEEDS SUNDAY NIGHT SPIRITUAL GROUP (141213), Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
8:30 PM SUNDAY NIGHT BIG BOOK STUDY GROUP (178592), Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (C)
MONDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (156320), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
10:00 AM HAWKEYE M-W-F 10AM GROUP (649823), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:00 AM ZOOM MEETING ID # 878 3903 4107, TOPIC AA MEETING, (This is not the Hawkeye Club MWF 10AM Group)
10:30AM ONE A DAY GROUP (642248), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
6:30 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712) 454-4708 (O - SP)
7:00 PM EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY GRP, Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City (O) (mtg held upstairs)
7:00 PM A NIGHT WITH JOE & CHARLIE, 801 3rd St SE, Le Mars, IA, 51031-1703 (O-BB)
7:00 PM JACKSON GROUP, Providence Hall, 115 E. Elk St, Jackson, NE, (O - HA)
7:30 PM GLENN AVE GROUP (135672), St. Mark Lutheran Church, 5200 Glenn Ave, Sioux City, (O - A - HA)
TUESDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (156320), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O-HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
10:00 AM "BIG BOOK BUDDIES" STUDY GROUP (Joe & Charlie Tapes) (654973), Hawkeye Club Library Rm, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:00 AM ZOOM MEETING ID # 878 3903 4107, OPEN AA MEETING (with Joe and Charlie)
10:30AM ONE A DAY GROUP (642248), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
7:00 PM NATIVE TALKING CIRCLE MTG, Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City (O)
6:30 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712)454-4708 (O - SP)
6:30 PM MONTHLY DISTRICT 1 BUSINESS MEETING (only meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month) Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
7:00 PM MOVILLE TUESDAY NIGHT GROUP (120243), Lutheran Church, 323 S. 4th St, Moville, IA (O)
7:00 PM SOUTH SIOUX CITY GROUP (108591), St Paul Methodist Church, 2003 A St, South Sioux City, NE, (O - HA)
7:00 PM TUESDAY EARLY BIRD 12x12 Study (616910), Mayflower Congregational Church, 1407 W 18th St, Sioux City, IA (O -12x)
7:00 PM SGT BLUFF GROUP (105437), 203 Port Neal Road, Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church, Sergeant Bluff, IA (O - A - HA) (Across Port Neal Road from Fire Station & Nursing Home)
8:30 PM TUESDAY 12 x 12 GROUP (602415), Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (C)
WEDNESDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (156320), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O-HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
10:00 AM HAWKEYE M-W-F 10AM GROUP (649823), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:00 AM ZOOM MEETING ID # 878 3903 4107, TOPIC AA MEETING, (This is not the Hawkeye Club MWF 10AM Group)
10:30AM ONE A DAY GROUP (642248), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
11:30AM MANY HANDS CARING GROUP (157315), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
12:00 N LEEDS WEDNESDAY BROWN BAG GROUP (712500), Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
5:30 PM WEDNESDAY BIG BOOK STUDY GROUP (654973), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
6:30 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712)454-4708 (O - SP)
6:30 PM WOMEN'S BIG BOOK/STEP STUDY (Ladies Only), 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O-L-HA)
6:30PM BIG BOOK STUDY, 301 Military Rd, N. Sioux City, SD (Senior Center) (O - HA)
7:00 PM LIVING SOBER GROUP (637545), Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (O)
7:00 PM (NEW TIME!) WESTLAWN GROUP (128354), W 4th & Casselman St's, Westlawn Church Basement, (O)
8:00 PM WHERE IT ALL BEGINS GROUP (647896), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
THURSDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (156320), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O-HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
10:00 AM HOW & WHY OF IT 12 x 12 STUDY (704103), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:00 AM ZOOM MEETING ID # 878 3903 4107, TOPIC AA MEETING, (This is not the Hawkeye Club MWF 10AM Group)
10:30 AM ONE A DAY GROUP (642248), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
5:30 PM CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR, Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
6:30 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712)454-4708 (O - SP)
7:00 PM DRUNKS HELPING DRUNKS MEETING, Riverside Lutheran Church, 1817 Riverside Blvd, Sioux City, (C)
7:00 PM WISE WORDS GROUP, Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (O)
7:00 PM MONTHLY SIOUXLAND INTERGROUP BUSINESS MEETING (only meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month) 614 Cook St, Sioux City, (O)
8:00 PM STOCKYARDS EXCHANGE GROUP (Men Only) (105446), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA - SP)
8:00 PM CORRECTIONVILLE AA GROUP (670963) Grace United Methodist Church, 429 5th St, Correctionville, IA 51016 (O-HA)
FRIDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (156320), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O-HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
10:00 AM HAWKEYE M-W-F 10AM GROUP (649823), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:00 AM ZOOM MEETING ID # 878 3903 4107, TOPIC AA MEETING, (This is not the Hawkeye Club MWF 10AM Group)
10:30AM ONE A DAY GROUP (642248), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
5:30 PM FRIDAY 5:30 PM NON-SMOKERS GROUP (630649), Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
6:30 PM GRUPO UN NUEVO CAMINO (678680), 12TH & Jackson St, Sioux City, (O - SP)
6:30 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712)454-4708 (O - SP)
7:00 PM YOUNG PERSON'S IN AA (YPAA) GROUP (704425), W 18th & Rebecca St's, Mayflower Congregational Church, Sioux City, (O - HA - CW) (Children Welcome) Last Summer Campfire Meeting!!
* The last Friday of the month - 9/26 View Flyer on Events page
7:00 PM SOUTH SIOUX CITY BIG BOOK STUDY GROUP (668505), Hope Lutheran Church, 218 W. 18th St, South Sioux City, NE, (O - HA)
7:00 PM NEW FREEDOM GROUP, (681171), Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (O)
7:00 PM CHEYENNE NON-SMOKING GROUP, 1st Lutheran Church, 3939 Cheyenne Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
8:00 PM MORNINGSIDE FELLOWSHIP GROUP (105443), Faith United Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave, Sioux City, (C - A - HA)
SATURDAY
6:30 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O-HA)
8:00 AM SUNRISE ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT GROUP (separate from Sat 6:30am) ONLINE ZOOM MTG, ID # 268 602 6284
8:30 AM BY THE BOOK GROUP (660613), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - BB - HA)
10:30 AM VAST AMOUNT OF FUN GROUP (630983), Club 215, 2432 Jay Ave, Sioux City, (O - HA)
10:30 AM SATURDAY MORNING 12 x 12 GROUP (121728), Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (C - HA)
2:00 PM GRUPO: "NUEVO CAMINO", 618 10th St, Sioux City, (712) 251-5347, (712) 266-5417 (O - SP)
4:00 PM GRUPO: "BUENA VOLUNTAD", 718 Jackson St, Sioux City, (402) 241-7817, (712) 454-4708 (O - SP)
5:00 PM QUARTERLY SIOUXLAND INTERGROUP UNITY DINNER, (O - HA) (Check the Events Page for dates and times)
5:00 PM LEEDS BIRTHDAY NIGHT, (Last Saturday of each month) (O - HA)
7:00 PM LIVING IN THE SOLUTION (709066), Leeds Alano Club, 4034 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, (O - HA)
7:00 PM OLD TIMER SPEAKER MTG, Fellowship Club, 1403 Summit St, Sioux City, (O )
8:00 PM NO NAME GROUP (119332), Mayflower Congregational Church, 1407 W 18th St, Sioux City, IA (O - HA)
8:00 PM SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE MEETING, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St, Sioux City, (O - HA)
Coding for Meetings:
(C) CLOSED; (O) OPEN; (L) LADIES ONLY; (M) MEN ONLY; (BB) BIG BOOK STUDY; (12x) 12 X 12 STUDY; (DR) DAILY REFLECTIONS; (LGBTQ) LESBIAN, GAY, BI, TRANS; (HA) WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE; (SK) SPEAKER; (JC) JOE & CHARLIE TAPE STUDY; (SP) SPANISH SPEAKING; (NC) NO CHILDREN; (CW) CHILDREN WELCOME; (A) AL-ANON; (T) ALATEEN.
