*Melissa Jones scrolled through the news article about the battle over beachfront development in Dakar with a heavy heart. The disappearing coastline in the Senegalese capital struck a chord, reminding her of the beloved Jersey Shore beaches of her youth that had been consumed by condos and private clubs.

It triggered memories of her going to Sandy Hook with her parents as a kid, building sandcastles and splashing in the waves without a care in the world. Those simple joys felt like a lifetime ago now that she and her husband *Tom were trapped in a cycle of alcoholism and pill addiction.

The news from Dakar made Melissa realize how much they had lost - their connection to nature, their optimism, their future if they didn't get help soon. Looking at *Tom passed out on the couch, bathed in the flickering light of Netflix, she felt a renewed determination.

The next day, Melissa explored online options and found the Hofman Hollis Stepping Into Action program. The 12-step inspired course allowed them to work through the materials at their own pace while getting expert guidance.

'I never thought some random news from Africa would be the wake-up call we needed,' *Tom said, clear-eyed for the first time in months. 'But watching our access to happiness just disappear, it really put things in perspective.'

Some addiction experts praised the couple's path, saying any trigger that prompts change should be embraced. 'The key is seizing that moment of clarity and converting it into sustained action,' said Dr. Rachel Green. However, others cautioned that a beach abroad held little relation to recovering from substance abuse.

In the end though, Melissa and *Tom were simply grateful they had found a way forward. 'It was hard to find local resources,' *Tom said. 'So an online program that could meet us wherever we were at was a godsend.'

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