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No one is too young to have trouble with alcohol. Alcoholism is anillness that affects people of all ages, the rich, the poor, men andwomen. It doesn’t matter how long, or how much you drink. When yourlife seems to be going nowhere, or it feels out of control and youthink drinking might have something to do with it, it usually does.Meet some people who know:JorgeBrettNicoleMarisol‘DreKenny
NIC OL EOne day at lunch my friends had abottle of vodka. I didn’t want to messup, but my friend was like “oh come on.”So we ended up splitting it.When it was time to goback to class we weretotally wasted, I meanreally drunk.Hi, I’m Nicole. I try to do theright thing at school, followthe rules, get goodgrades, and allthat. It’s nevergood enoughfor me,though.I wantperfection.By the time I got to chorus, Iwas out of it, but I thought Icould get through it.I was singingwrong notesand my teacherstopped classand asked, “ Nic,what is up withyou?”I felt like ajerk.When I got home I stolesome liquor from myparents, and put waterin the bottle so theywouldn’t know. I felt muchbetter after the drink.I couldn’tbe an alcoholic,could I?Now I drink just aboutevery day in my room.
‘DREI’m Dre, and It’stough for me toget through theday withoutdrinking.I get toonervous.I drink beer and wine, usuallyin places where no one willnotice me or bother me.Some days I wake up and don’t rememberwhat happened the night before.I can stop drinkingwhenever I want, but Ireally don’t want to.
I wish I could just straighten out my head.If we have a test or something I can’t thinkor concentrate.My mom caught me stealingfrom her purse, and she wason my case, so I quit drinkingfor a while.But, I have to drink if I wantto talk to girls, or do justabout anything.I can’t stand itanymore.You thinkI could be analcoholic?
We got some beerand got totallytrashed.MARISOLHey. My name is Marisol.My friends and I wentdriving last weekendand went to the city.I woke up the next day in jail,and did not remember how Igot there.
My dad came and gotme out.The cops told me we werearrested for being in astolen car.Drinking isn’t any funanymore. I think I willquit–tomorrow.I hopeI’m not analcoholic
BR E T TAt 14 I dropped out of school and started workingconstruction. At 16 my mom kicked me out. I stolecredit cards to get money to party.I’m Brett.My dad leftwhen I was 11and my momand I moved.That’s whenI starteddrinking.It was hard tomake new friends,but drinking madeit easier.The cops were after me for the credit cards, so Istole a car to get away. I also got a bottle ofscotch. The cops found me passed out in the car.I thought the only problem I had wasgetting caught, but the whole episodescared me.
A year later, I had straightened up and was living with my momagain. I had done my time in jail, and now had a steady job.Then I went to a party and drank.I stumbled home drunk and hada fight with my mom. I hit her andended up back in jail.I knowI am crazy, but couldI be an alcoholictoo?
Last week I went tothis great party.KENNYMy name is Kenny.I got into drinkingstarting with beer.All the cool people,and all the beer youcould drink.I wanted to be part of thegroup, so I drank along witheveryone.Somehow though, once I start I can’t stop–evenwhen I want to. I end up getting sick a lot.I knowI’m too young,but I worrythat I’m analcoholic.
I used to get friends to buy booze,and split the bottle.JORGEMy name is Jorge,and I’ve been drinkingsince I was 15.I blacked out a lot, and couldn’t tell youwhat I did the night before.Then I found A.A.,Alcoholics Anonymous.
Even though I walked in filled with anger, hate andfear, the people there welcomed me.in A.A. most of Us use our first names only,so Nobody needs to know you’re here.There are no dues or fees in A.A. People contributewhat they can, when they can.Nobody is tooyoung to have a drinkingproblem.
I am an alcoholic.But I found that with A.A.I can have a great lifewithout drinking.You can find A.A. justabout anywhereAnd A.A. ishere for you anytimeyou need help.
1.Do you drink to relaxwhen you have problems?3.Do you prefer todrink alone?2.4.Are your grades slipping?Are you having troubleat work?Do you drink when youget irritated, frustrated,unhappy, or angry?
5.Do you ever try to stopdrinking, or drink less,and fail?6.7.Do you guzzleyour drinks?Do you take drinks inthe morning?8.Have you ever forgottenwhat happened when youwere drinking?
9.Do you ever lie about your drinking?11.Do you get drunk when youdrink, even though youdon’t want to?10.Do you ever get in troublewhen you drink?12.Do you think it is cool tobe able to drink a lot?
A.A. is made up of people fromevery race, religion and socialclass, and it’s worldwide.A.A. members include doctors,salespeople, actors, constructionworkers, athletes, artists andstudents–every kindof person.While all A.A. meetings are open toanyone who needs them, in manyplaces there are many meetingsgeared toward young people.Overone-third ofour membersare female.Thousands ofyoung members enjoysuccessful sobriety withthe help of A.A.
W H AT IS A . A . ?Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowshipof men and women who share theirexperience, strength and hope witheach other that they may solve theircommon problem and help others torecover from alcoholism.The only requirement for membershipis a desire to stop drinking. There areno dues or fees for A.A. membership;we are self-supporting through ourown contributions. a.A. is not alliedwith any sect, denomination, politics,organization or institution; does notwish to engage in any controversy,neither endorses nor opposes anycauses. our primary purpose is to staysober and help other alcoholics toachieve sobriety. 2005 A.a. Grapevine, inc.; reprinted with permission.
1.we admitted we were powerless overalcohol–that our lives had becomeunmanageable.2.came to believe that a Powergreater than ourselves couldrestore us to sanity.3.Made a decision to turn our will andour lives over to the care of god aswe understood him.4.made a searching and fearless moralinventory of ourselves.5.admitted to god, to ourselves andto another human being the exactnature of our wrongs.6.were entirely ready to have godremove all these defects ofcharacter.This is a.a. General ServiceConference-approved literature.Illustrated & designed by:zippy studioCopyright 2006 byAlcoholics AnonymousWorld services, inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.7.humbly asked him to remove ourshortcomings.8.made a list of all persons we hadharmed, and became willing to makeamends to them all.9.made direct amends to such peoplewherever possible, except when to doso would injure them or others.10.continued to take personalinventory and when we were wrongpromptly admitted it.11.sought through prayer andmeditation to improve our consciouscontact with god as we understoodhim, praying only for knowledge ofhis will for us and the power tocarry that out.12.having had a spiritual awakening asthe result of these steps, we triedto carry this message to alcoholics,and to practice these principles inall our affairs.mail address:p.o. box 459Grand Central StationNew York, NY 10163www.aa.orgP-3745M 02/19 (DG3)
illness that affects people of all ages, the rich, the poor, men and women. It doesn't matter how long, or how much you drink. When your life seems to be going nowhere, or it feels out of control and you think drinking might have something to do with it, it usually does. Meet some people who know:
