The solution is multifaceted and starts with carrying this message to the sick and suffering alcoholic no matter where he/she is, nothing has a more profound affect than one alcoholic talking to another about our problems with this disease. Family members, law enforcement persons, doctors, clergy and counselors can appeal to us and try to reason with us about the devastating consequences of our actions, but with little success. The experience, strength and hope of another alcoholic can start a path to recovery better than any other means.

My story is one of hope. It starts with how my defects of character developed within me, how I used alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, how my life was unmanageable and my powerlessness over addiction. The solution I found in the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a story that anyone who wants to change their life and become useful productive members of their community can follow and succeed.

The elimination of my drinking has only been a beginning; the relationship and partnership with my spouse, the participating in my children’s lives and my contributions to my community has changed my life.

It is my belief that the retelling of our experiences, what we have leaned from them and how we have changed our lives in recovery is key to helping others. What I am about to do is share “how I became what I used to be like, what I used to be like, what happened, and what I am like now”.

I invite you to share your stories and do what our co-founders Bill W. and Dr. Bob found to be the most successful treatment for recovery, work with others.

Wait Kids, Save a Drink For Grand Ma!

Researchers found that 23 percent of men between the ages of 50 and 64 admitted to binge drinking in the past month, as did approximately 9 percent of women. This data was compiled from a government survey of roughly 11,000 average, salt of the earth Americans ages 50 and up.

The findings published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, suggest that even though 45 percent of U.S. college students ages 18 and 24 reported a recent drinking binge, it also shines light on a growing problem – “Binge drinking is not just for youngters anymore – Adults are quickly joining the party as well!“  Further evidenced by the fact that more that 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women 65 and older also admitted to surrendering to the temptation of the bottle.

Since Alcohol use among youths has become a permanent fixture in the media, many argue “is it even wise to use an alcoholic component in such a meeting?” – surely it is not needed. This is the very same component that has Alocholics and many through out the recovery community up in arms.

Ironically, the alcoholic component injected into the meeting arose as a result of President Obama’s phone call to Sergeant Crowley, who unexpected took the call on his cell phone in a local police bar. It was later stated that “The idea of meeting for a beer seemed appropriate at the time.”

Now the world has inappropriately coined it the “Beer Summit”, leaving those with real alcohol and addiction problems filled with chagrin.

Many also argue that while the president is experiencing various sates of inebriation, desperately trying to stitch the wounds of his supposed “racial remarks”, many good American men and women are being killed over seas.

Now, the good folks at InTheRooms.com have outdone themselves by creating the largest and most comprehensive Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings, Narcotics Anonymous Meetings and Gamblers Anonymous Meetings database ever created.

Meetings.InTheRooms.com is now live and will be growing and developing significantly in the near future. You don’t need to be a member of InTheRooms.com to check out the new AA, NA and GA meetings database, but they always welcome new members with open arms. Visit them at www.InTheRooms.com.