Meredith Baxter may be best known as for her role on the hit TV sitcom "Family Ties," but for many struggling with addiction, she's now a role model as well

<p>Meredith Baxter may be best known as for her role on the hit TV sitcom "Family Ties," but for many struggling with addiction, she's now a role model as well.<br />The actress, producer and author gave the keynote address at the 10th annual Fairbanks Circle of Hope Dinner at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis on Wednesday.<br /><br />Baxter, who got sober 21 years ago, said although the details of her story may be unique, she believes others can relate to the universal aspects of substance abuse.<br />"The drinking was a symptom," she said. "The real disease was the way I processed my thinking and the extreme self-centeredness that I suffered from."<br />Baxter recounted for the crowd her first visit to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.<br />"I went into the room and I thought, 'Well, that never happened to me, and I never lost my home, and I was never in the gutter, so I'm not an alcoholic,'" she said. "But then I heard people talk about the internal devastation. I was shredded emotionally. I had not one other idea in my head. I identified with that and that's what I could say."<br />After her speech, Baxter signed copies of her newly released book, "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame and Floundering," which details her struggle with addiction, overcoming breast cancer and coming out as a lesbian in 2009.<br />She also makes claims of domestic abuse during her 15-year marriage to "Bridget Loves Bernie" co-star David Birney.<br />"I have a lot to tell people about domestic abuse and how not to carry that around as an albatross for the rest of your life, because I think we tend to," she said. "If you're like me, and a professional victim, that's what you tend to do, and it's really important to get out from underneath that."<br />Wednesday's event was aimed at raising money for the north side recovery treatment center's high school, Hope Academy, and educating the public about the realities of addiction and treatment.</p>

Meredith Baxter may be best known as for her role on the hit TV sitcom "Family Ties," but for many struggling with addiction, she's now a role model as well

Meredith Baxter may be best known as for her role on the hit TV sitcom "Family Ties," but for many struggling with addiction, she&...

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Duff McKagan has revealed his autobiographical book offers a look into a ''cross section'' of his life, including his battles with drink and drugs

<p>.<br />Duff McKagan's autobiography offers a "cross section" view of his life.<br />The former Guns 'N Roses bassist - who now performs with rock bands Velvet Revolver and Loaded - admitted while he isn't even sure whether the tome 'It's So Easy and Other Lies' is any good, it will document his battles with drink and drug addictions.<br />He told radio station WDHA-FM 105.5 FM: "You get a cross section of my life. I almost lost a battle to addiction and I kind of had to relive it, but in a conversation where you understand what's going on in my life.<br />"I could tell you how much I drank or how many drugs I took in a day but a normal person would just not understand that. I don't even know if the book was even any good. It sounds lame but it was just so many damn words and endless hours of writing."<br />Despite documenting his musical career in the book, Duff recently revealed he still has "a hundred" things he wants to accomplish.<br />He explained: "You know there's a hundred things I could think of I have left to do, but it's been great so far. I've never really sat there and thought about it; about what I've done so far, and how does it feel. I probably should do that one day, but it's not happening yet. Probably a good sign."</p>

Duff McKagan has revealed his autobiographical book offers a look into a ''cross section'' of his life, including his battles with drink and drugs

. Duff McKagan's autobiography offers a "cross section" view of his life. The former Guns 'N Roses bassist - who now perfo...

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TWO barmen went on trial yesterday for the unlawful killing of a customer who died from alcohol poisoning.

<p><br /><br />Graham Parish (26) died in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary on July 1, 2008 after spending the previous evening drinking heavily in the hotel bar. Prosecutors allege they had a duty of care to the victim.<br /><br />Prosecuting on behalf of the State, Patrick McCarthy opened the case by telling the 12-person jury that the death was "manslaughter by gross negligence". He said the negligence involved the high likelihood of substantial injuries to the victim.<br /><br />Mr McCarthy said the State claims the two accused men "were the actors" in causing the unlawful death of Graham Parish.<br /><br />Judge Tom Teehan heard the employees of Hayes Hotel were charged as they "had a duty of care" to patrons in the bar who were being served alcohol.<br /><br />Mr McCarthy said there was a duty owed by the bar staff to Mr Parish not to cause him or his co-drinkers a risk of substantial injury.<br /><br />He said the victim died from acute alcoholic poisoning after drink was served by the barmen throughout the evening.<br /><br />Test<br /><br />The jury were told it was up to them "to test" whether a likelihood of serious injury or death was to arise; through the knowledge of the barmen of how much alcohol had been consumed before eight to 10 spirits were put into a pint glass to be drunk in one go.<br /><br />Mr McCarthy said the barmen were involved in an act which was negligent and caused the death of Graham Parish. He said the barman, Aidan Dalton, served the drinks and the bar manager, Gary Wright, permitted him to do so.<br /><br />Mr McCarthy said both workers were involved in the dispensation of drink and the gross negligence, described as wrong and unlawful, was obvious in those circumstances to ordinary individuals.<br /><br />"We must prove that there is a causative link between the accused actions of giving the drinks and the victim's death," Mr McCarthy said.<br /><br />Mr Parish's parents, David and Julie, were present for yesterday's hearing as were the accused men's families</p>

TWO barmen went on trial yesterday for the unlawful killing of a customer who died from alcohol poisoning.

Graham Parish (26) died in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary on July 1, 2008 after spending the previous evening drinking heavily in the ho...

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