Alcoholics Anonymous - Addiction and Recovery

I decided to start this blog after my boredom got me searching the web today. I read an Ann Landers article from a recovering alcoholic. It didn't say how long he had been in recovery or his past addiction. He was concerned about how people treat alcoholics or drug addicts after they are in recovery. You know, hiding the liquor, beer and wine when you visit them. Friends and colleagues drinking only in moderation or not at all when around you. Telling you they quit doing drugs, etc.

I don't know about anyone else but I always made everyone around me aware that I was a recovering alcoholic. Believe me though, most all knew. The ones around me after sobriety were my family and a few friends that I could count on one hand without a drinking problem. They loved me enough to care. They knew I was an addict and drinking out of control and had been to several rehabs in my days.

When I arrived home after Rehab I had one new rule in my house, no alcohol or illegal drugs, period. My girlfriend who lived with me at the time had an active alcoholic brother who thought he could break this rule. He came into my living room with a pounder and I told him to get rid of it. He was such an ass he called me outside to settle it. Of course I didn't, but I did tell him he had to leave and he did, very mad and calling me names the whole way out the door. That was the one and only time it ever happened.

The most important part of any person in recovery is to change people, places and things. If they don't do this their chances of staying sober are slim. I am a firm believer in this. No matter how much you think you had friends when drinking, they all disappear when you quit, providing you don't go back to where they live or hang out.

Alcoholism is a disease. Addiction is a major problem to me with many things though. I guess I'm an addictive person all around. Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, it's all the same. A drug is a drug is a drug. The only difference, alcohol is an accepted product in our society.

Being a grateful recovering alcoholic is the best thing that ever happened to me. Being drunk all the time was really no fun at all. Before sobriety my sloagan was "Live to Drink and Drink to Live" and now it is "Life is Fantastic, Exciting and a Challenge!