Hello my name is Craig… Regarding alcohol, I have a little different story than most. I didn’t pick up my first drink until I was 42. I loved it. It was so nice to be able to escape the fears of life. Alcohol quickly took over my life and I couldn’t imagine living a day without it. As alcohol started to take over my life, I became more and more miserable and shot full of holes. I couldn’t go a day without it. I needed to drink to be functional. I have never felt so alone and miserable. The problem I found myself in was that I had to stop drinking or I would lose my job. This was/is very difficult to do considering I couldn’t go hours without drinking let alone days and months. I needed help, I knew I had to stop but I couldn’t . I checked myself into detox and after 7 days without drinking I was sure I was cured and ready to never drink again. The same day I got out of detox I found myself drunk with no idea why. I didn’t even try to resist the urge to drink. After a few more months of heavy drinking, I once again checked into a detox facility and was sure that this time I could stop. Once again, I was drunk the day I got out. I remember sitting on my bed so confused and bewildered at why I had drank again? I remember this over powerful feeling that I was losing. I was a full fledged alcoholic and I had no idea how to stop. This is where AA came into the picture. I called AA that same night and asked where a meeting was, I went to that Saturday night meeting not knowing anyone. I ended up doing 90 meetings in 90 days. For the first time in my life someone or something taught me how to stop drinking. They taught me that I can never socially drink again, I had to completely give up alcohol for good. They taught me about a higher power who has the power to completely remove the obsession. Through my actions of attending meetings, reading the big book 5 times back to back and getting a sponsor, God took away my obsession with alcohol. I haven’t had another drink for a little over 2 years now. The pain of that first year sober is pretty much gone. I was a slave and now I am free. It’s a wonderful feeling. After being so blessed through becoming apart of AA I wanted to give back what I had learned to others. I heard about taking AA into the jail, I signed up to volunteer every Sunday. I have such a special opportunity to work with the men in the prison, those guys could have been me, the only difference is they got caught. Carrying AA into the prison is such a privilege and honor. The more I work with the group the more hope I can see in their eyes. Sunday night is the highlight of my week , I am so proud to be a member of a group that has one purpose and that is to help others who suffer with addictions. I truly love this program.

-Craig