Marblehead ex-addict hopes sharing stories can help others strengthen hope

MARBLEHEAD – The words of recovering addicts and alcoholics saved his life and now Doug Chick is turning to the Internet to help bring stories of recovery and words of hope to others still enduring the dark desperation he experienced.This month Chick launched www.xaddx.com in his Marblehead office with help of Web site designer Marvin Kane who runs Peabody-based Kane Works.The site is an online forum for people in the throes of any type of addiction or who are recovering from addiction to share their stories.”I’m trying to impact the stigma of addiction. To participate is to not have shame any longer,” Chick said.A dollar a month subscription allows people to contribute their story. Chick “redistributes” some of the money on a regular basis in the form of a cash award to 10 contributors who have offered their personal accounts to the site.”The idea is to take a certain amount and redistribute it randomly,” he said, adding he is seeking financial backers to help him expand the site.He said “xaddx” (ex-addicts) is just another addition to the growing phenomenon of online social network sites.”I wanted to create an arena, something totally anonymous, without a reference to other programs,” he said.Xaddx is also a place where people in recovery can talk about positive change in their lives.”Addiction is what happened to someone; it’s not who you are,” he said.Chick recovered from 27 years of addiction that started when he was 12 years old by getting involved in fellowships for recovering addicts and alcoholics.He grew up in Lynn’s former America Park housing complex (site of current King’s Lynne) and joined the Army two days after turning 17. His decision to enroll in college after he completed three years in the service coincided with his growing dependence on alcohol and drugs.”It became my every day activity,” he said. “To me there were no boundaries.”Chick pulled himself out of what he called the “land of the living dead” and eventually enrolled in Salem State College where he earned a degree in psychology and criminal justice.He came up with the idea to create xaddx but said he needed Kane’s expertise to make it a reality. He views the site, in part, as a way for people who have not sought help for drug and alcohol problems to communicate their feelings.”Maybe this is the venue where some kid can open his or her mouth and put some words down.”