CWSA - Guest Blaine (Pt. 1)CWSA - Guest Blaine (Pt. 1)
Christians with Secret Addictions
Terry Hanna talks with Blaine Long about his upbringing in an alcoholic home, his own descent into heavy drinking and drugs, and the early seeds of recovery. The episode focuses on the pain, family impact, and moment of clarity that led Blaine towards long-term sobriety and a deeper Christian faith.
14:55•2 Aug 2026
From Family Chaos to a Moment of Clarity: Blaine’s Early Battle with Alcohol
Episode Overview
- Alcoholism is described as a two-fold disease: a mental obsession combined with a powerful physical craving.
- Growing up in an alcoholic home can create deep fear and anxiety that often carry into adult addiction.
- Court-ordered meetings and seeing old drinking companions sober can plant crucial seeds for future recovery.
- Addiction is shown as a family disease, harming spouses and children as much as the person drinking.
- A moment of clarity, recognising the harm done to his children, became a key turning point for Blaine’s desire to change.
“"The only thing I was doing down there was scaring the hell out of my kids."”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation between host Terry Hanna and guest Blaine Long offers a raw look at addiction, family pain, and the early steps towards recovery, especially for Christians who feel trapped and ashamed. Aimed at people wrestling with alcoholism or other addictions, and their loved ones, the show has the feel of a recovery meeting on the radio.
Terry sets a warm, no-nonsense tone, while Blaine shares what he calls his "experience, strength, and hope" after growing up in an alcoholic home and becoming a "full-blown alcoholic" himself by the end of high school. You’ll hear Blaine describe fear-filled childhood memories, using the boys' club as his first escape, and then swapping it for drink and drugs as a teenager.
He breaks down alcoholism as a "two-fold disease" – a "mental obsession coupled with a phenomenal craving" – explaining how once he started, he "could not stop drinking until I passed out, went to jail, whatever." If you've ever wondered why "one's too many and a thousand's not enough," his story makes that phrase hit home.
There’s a stark honesty as Blaine talks about wrecked cars, a sky-high drink-driving charge, a collapsing marriage, and the moment of clarity when he realised, "The only thing I was doing down there was scaring the hell out of my kids." The episode also highlights how Alcoholics Anonymous, court-ordered meetings, and seeing old drinking buddies sober planted a seed that later led him back to recovery.
Faith runs through the whole chat, with Terry pointing to God's grace, scripture, and the 12 steps as tools for freedom, and hinting that part two will focus more on Blaine’s 30 years of sobriety and walk with Christ. If you’re stuck in the chaos of addiction, or love someone who is, this story may help you feel a bit less alone and a bit more hopeful. What parts of Blaine’s journey sound most like your own?
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