Jun 02, 2001 09:40 PM
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I have a male friend who by admission, is an alcoholic. He is thankfully, now going through rehab. Please read this story I am about to write. It is all true, and luckily no one was killed!
My friend'C', started drinking at age 15, he is now 36 and lucky to be alive.
At age 17'C' got his first DUI ticket.(Driving under the influence of alcohol). He was stopped at a red light and fell asleep!. Thank goodness for some reason, his foot remained on the brake pedal and his car didn't careen into oncoming traffic. The person in the car behind him alerted the police when'C' didn't drive when the light turned green. He was arrested, spent 3 nights in the lock up, until bail was made, went to court and was fined$250.00 and given 30 days of community service.
At age 19, 'C' was driving his car after a night of partying, swerved off the road, the car landed in a ditch after rolling over. This time he was not so lucky. He was badly hurt. Both legs were broken and had to be set with pins, one kidney was smashed and had to be removed and he was hospitalized for 3 months. Once released from the hospital, he went to court, was sentenced to 90 days this time and given a$500.00 fine.
And time goes on.
Age 25, once again'C' is driving under the influence of alcohol, driving irraticlly and pulled over by a highway patrol officer. He is taken in again to be held over until trial at which time the judge revokes his license for 5 years and he has to spend 30 days in lock up and do 500 hours of community service plus pays a$750.00 fine.
I won't go on about the next incident, because this is suppossed to be about quitting alcohol, not drinking it.
At last, now at age 36'C' has his driving license back. And I will now tell you how he is staying sober.
'C' joined'AA'(Alcoholics Anonymous) and goes to meetings regularly. He has also joined a support group, where many people go 2 times a week to just talk about why they drink, the problem that cause them to drink and the many reasons they should not drink. He has also stopped'going out with his friends for just a beer to relax' after work. He stays out of anyplace that serves alcoholic beverages(So he is not tempted) and most of all, he thinks of the many things that could have happened to him and other people because of his drinking. He thinks about what his drinking has done to his family. And more than anything else he thinks of all he can accomplish now that he is sober.
('C' has now been sober for almost 1 year, he says he does miss drinking sometimes, but, he cherishes life more)
If you drink to excess, STOP NOW before you have to go through what'C' has gone through. If you don't drink, DO NOT START as you've read here, it is very hard to quit.
I myself do not drink, and am greatful that'C', my very best friend, who means as much to me as my family, no longer drinks either.
