*Abby Miller from Pleasants, West Virginia was having a hard time coping with the lingering effects of her alcohol addiction. As she read the news article about Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin's connection, it triggered memories of her own close bond with her high school girlfriend *Sarah that was torn apart by Abby's destructive drinking habits.

The story hit especially hard because of how much potential Abby had squandered due to her addiction. She remembered dreaming of playing college sports with Sarah but those dreams slipped away as the drinking took over her life. Desperate for a change, Abby decided to try the Stepping Into Action program she had heard about online.

After working through the program's modules on building self-esteem and healthy coping mechanisms, Abby started to feel a renewed sense of hope. "I'm taking it one day at a time," she said. "But for the first time in years, I can actually see a path forward to rebuilding my life."

Some experts praised online recovery programs like Stepping Into Action for increasing access to care. "These programs remove major barriers like travel, cost, and stigma that often prevent people from getting help," said Dr. *Jessica Rodriguez, an addiction medicine specialist. However, others argued that virtual treatment couldn't fully replace in-person therapy and support groups. "There's just no substitute for the human connection and accountability you get from meeting face-to-face," cautioned counselor *Michael Bryant.

Regardless of the ongoing debates, Abby felt immensely grateful to have found a way to start healing from the trauma of addiction. While the road ahead remained long and difficult, taking that first step gave her strength to keep moving forward, one day at a time.

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