Bill's Story
A very brief synopsis of my story is as follows:
I started using alcohol around age 16. I liked what it did from the start. I drank about 3 times per month, sometimes more throughout high school. I also started smoking marijuana around the age of 17, daily when I had it. I drank more frequently once I turn of legal age (19 at that time) to 3-4 times per week. Around the age of 20, I became a bartender and was drinking daily by then. I drank pretty much daily until the age of 35. The only time that I did not drink was when I was in treatment (about 7 inpatient and 3 outpatient) and sometimes brief periods of sobriety of no more than 4 months (2 times). I quit using marijuana (for the most part) in 1982, at which time my drinking picked up two fold. I smoked it about 12 times over the next 11 years and have not used any for about the last 10 years. During this time, I quit jobs because of my drinking, made geographical moves, divorced and married 2 times, kicked out of the Air Force, all because of my use of alcohol. I was hospitalized about 5-6 times due to pancreatitis, one time for a suicide attempt and spent time in ICU for internal bleeding (3 pints or more of blood, should have died) and one time for drinking on antabuse. I attended AA off and on from 1987 forward, which I found helpful when I wanted to be sober. In '94 I met my current wife. I moved here to Iowa to be with her. After 4 months of ups and downs, treatment and 2 hospitalizations, I decided it had been enough. It was April 18th, 1996 when I took my last drink. Today I am a substance abuse counselor. I completed a Bachelors degree in night school majoring in both Human Services and Psychology. Gainfully employed. Married my current wife and have 2 step-sons and one 2.5 year old son that I never thought I would have. Life is wonderful. I believe that treatment, no matter how many times one goes through it, is helpful and important in ones recovery. It is there that you learn to understand and recognize why you are different. Although it may not change everyone the first time, it does leave a lasting impression. When one is finally tired of the using life, they already have a foundation to start to grow and build on. Again, this is very brief and I am willing to share any or all of my story with anyone who is willing to listen.
Reprinted from Recovery Iowa 2005 Recovery Month Calendar
I started using alcohol around age 16. I liked what it did from the start. I drank about 3 times per month, sometimes more throughout high school. I also started smoking marijuana around the age of 17, daily when I had it. I drank more frequently once I turn of legal age (19 at that time) to 3-4 times per week. Around the age of 20, I became a bartender and was drinking daily by then. I drank pretty much daily until the age of 35. The only time that I did not drink was when I was in treatment (about 7 inpatient and 3 outpatient) and sometimes brief periods of sobriety of no more than 4 months (2 times). I quit using marijuana (for the most part) in 1982, at which time my drinking picked up two fold. I smoked it about 12 times over the next 11 years and have not used any for about the last 10 years. During this time, I quit jobs because of my drinking, made geographical moves, divorced and married 2 times, kicked out of the Air Force, all because of my use of alcohol. I was hospitalized about 5-6 times due to pancreatitis, one time for a suicide attempt and spent time in ICU for internal bleeding (3 pints or more of blood, should have died) and one time for drinking on antabuse. I attended AA off and on from 1987 forward, which I found helpful when I wanted to be sober. In '94 I met my current wife. I moved here to Iowa to be with her. After 4 months of ups and downs, treatment and 2 hospitalizations, I decided it had been enough. It was April 18th, 1996 when I took my last drink. Today I am a substance abuse counselor. I completed a Bachelors degree in night school majoring in both Human Services and Psychology. Gainfully employed. Married my current wife and have 2 step-sons and one 2.5 year old son that I never thought I would have. Life is wonderful. I believe that treatment, no matter how many times one goes through it, is helpful and important in ones recovery. It is there that you learn to understand and recognize why you are different. Although it may not change everyone the first time, it does leave a lasting impression. When one is finally tired of the using life, they already have a foundation to start to grow and build on. Again, this is very brief and I am willing to share any or all of my story with anyone who is willing to listen.
Reprinted from Recovery Iowa 2005 Recovery Month Calendar
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