It's been 24 years since I used vodka like aspirin -- to numb my pain. In fact, I've been sober 22 years more than I drank, since I quit before I was old enough to buy the stuff. So my brain should be used to ordering Perrier and shaking my head politely as the Merlot bottle comes my way.

Addiction is a mysterious thing. You never know what it will take to break the forcefield of denial, allowing a person to change their course and survive.

Following are five key ways in which addiction experts demonstrate a detachment from the most self-evident truths about addiction, and what causes their addiction delusions.

There are times that you may not like the behavior of an addict, but when you learn to love yourself, you will be able to reach out with love for the addict without demanding such love in return.