This article was my first published piece as a freelance writer. It appeared in the Aug 06 Vices Magazine Online.

Don't Pass Up Your Tomorrows...Recover Today

A Magazine which looks at the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Continuum of Addictions

Vices Magazine Aug 06 - ARTICLES

I am a published author of Addiction: A personal Story. The book is a Christ centered guide to recovery from alcoholism and other addictive behaviors. I hold an Associates degree in Behavioral Science and I am presently earning a Bachelors degree in Psychology/ Religion. I have been in a program of recovery since 1991


A Little Willingness Goes A Long Way by Lacy Enderson


Richard was a mean, ill tempered, egotistical, self centered alcoholic and drug addict. To hear his story you would definitely wonder how he is still alive. Alcohol and rock cocaine controlled his life for many years. Richard sought help a few times through treatment centers and twelve step programs but most attempted recovery ended in relapse.


Through a lot of hard work Richard has been clean from rock cocaine since 1993 and his drinking ended in August of 2002 when he learned that he suffered from Hepatitis C. A lot has changed since then. Today Richard takes a medication for the Hepatitis that has put the disease in remission. He has a spiritual connection with God that has completely changed his life. With a liver disease Richard realizes that drinking can never be an option. The disease is considered his saving grace.


Richard doesn't remember drinking a lot in High School and the only drug use was marijuana one time as a freshman. A few times as a teenager Richard remembers blacking out at a party but he seldom ever went to parties. Because blacking out at parties was not a common occurrence Richard never saw the impending problem. Richard admits that once he took the first drink he found it quite difficult to stop. Active drinking and drug use really started in the military and within a short period of time took control of his life for more than twenty years.


After Richard joined the Navy he found himself drinking more and more. Richard jokes that the Navy taught him to drink in multiple languages. He says a beer vending machine was located in the barracks. One could have a beer to relax after a rough day on the aircraft carrier. Richard developed a tremendous amount of fear working on the flight deck so the beer provided him more than just comfort. He actually came to depend on it. He notes that a few guys in his barracks introduced him to white cross speed and next came the cocaine.


After the military Richard was married and had two daughters. His wife, although unhappy most of the time because of Richard's drinking, really didn't force him into any type of treatment program. She was the perfect example of a co-dependent. It wasn't until Richard had experienced enough hangovers and sleepless nights that he committed himself into a 30 day lockup. For six months after the treatment he managed to stay clean and sober but then he was back to drinking and drugging more than ever. He admits that the alcoholism was outside his door waiting for him to relapse. Richard says the disease definitely got worse, never better.


In 1993 Richard entered again into a local outpatient program. He attended group therapy and private counseling. He took antabuse every day for six months as an extra defense against drinking. Richard was told by one of the counselors that he might as well go out and drink because she saw no potential in him for abstinence at all. That motivated him into sobriety for over six years.


After two years sober his wife left him and took his girls. He remembers feeling devastated. But he managed to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Shortly after the separation he met his soon to be next wife in the program of alcoholics anonymous. That relationship gave Richard a new focus and the strength to go on. Married two years later that relationship, although still going strong today, was nothing but strife. Richard allowed no time for personal healing from the divorce. He admits to feelings of anger, rage, and resentment towards his prior wife which made him very difficult to live with. Richard labels himself during this time as a mean spirited, dry drunk.


One short bout with alcohol came after 6 years, 1 month and 28 days (Richard counted every day of sobriety). Richard's life wasn't going as planned. He suffered quite a few work related setbacks and many relationship problems. He said one afternoon after quite a few days of alcohol romancing he bought a bottle of whiskey and gave up his sobriety. He knew it wasn't the right thing to do but admitted to feeling better emotionally for a short while. Alcohol only works for the alcoholic temporarily. An alcoholic loses his power of choice over the alcohol and it didn't take long for Richard to lose his. But it wasn't until Richard was diagnosed with chronic active hepatitis C that he came to the realization he would never drink again; and he was relieved.


Richard hasn't had a drink or a drug since August 30, 2002. The best part of his story is he hasn't wanted one. Life with hepatitis C has been hard but medicine has put the disease into remission. Hepatitis C and alcoholism aren't curable but both are treatable. Just as Richard is given a daily reprieve from alcoholism Richard also receives a daily reprieve from the symptoms of hepatitis C. God willing he will never suffer another symptom of either disease again.


Richard's days are better than ever. He sees the beauty in living and cherishes life. He has a great relationship with his daughters and his marriage has been transformed into a wonderful unity. Richard values his friends and family and he has a personal relationship with God. Richard says he always believed in God but only recently learned how to trust in God. He is an elder in his church. He is in the middle of a large church remodel. Richard speaks of a long time desire to build a church. This remodel has brought him that much closer to his dream. He hopes and prays the next big project is building a brand new church. He admits the dream would always be just a dream if he was still drinking. Richard owes everyday to God and sobriety. He admits his life today without drugs and alcohol is better than any life he ever imagined.



Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination. -
William Longgood