Paul I agree completely with what Harriet already told you about this.
I'd like to add a gross, but great analogy my husband once heard at a 
meeting - trying to control alcoholism with any long term success by 
willpower, is like trying to control really bad diarhea for the long 
haul by willpower.  It doesn't work.  Been there, tried that, 
reincarnated - GOT SOBER!
.
By the way, not only am I a member of AA who is ten years plus sober 
and clean, but I have worked in the field of addiction and I went to 
school for it.  I've NEVER heard any statistics anywhere that indicate 
that anyone stays sober and/or clean on willpower alone for long.  
Although I don't believe AA is the only cure, scientistic studies and 
their statistics alike all show that AA works best for most - it is the
easiest way to go in recovery from alcoholism.
.
I'd like to tell you about what I was like as a kid.  I not only drank 
the unconsecrated sacramental wine with the altar boys (Catholic School
- bah humbug, GRIN) but I stole pills from my mom's apparent stash, 
which she seemed to have stolen from HER mom. (downers)   I also was 
known to do a great imitation of a really deep hacking cough in order 
to get some of the "medicinal wine" out of the cupboard given to me or 
even codeine cough syrup.
.
I happen to agree it would be good if teens didn't start drinking, but 
that is my personal opinion - it is not the opinion of AA as a whole.  
It reflects my personal bias.  However, the real question seems to me 
to be, WHY some teens become alcoholics when they start drinking and 
others never do.   Why do some kids get in trouble with it, while 
other's go on to become doctors or lawyers or chiropractors or dentists
or CPA's or college professors and become very successful, happy, 
fulfilled "normies"?   And what can be done for those of us, adults or 
kids, who do cross the line and become addicted to alcohol or other 
drugs?
.
In AA today there are groups for young people - special interest groups
- on the local level and hundreds and thousands of teens are finding a 
way of life, a sober and happier one, in these groups.  At the national
and state levels some of these groups associate for holding conventions
and other activities.  I am told these are a great deal of fun.  Today 
any alcoholic, any age, can decide to get off the elevator heading for 
their own destruction at any floor - no alcoholic has to wait until he 
or she hits bottom, ends up on the streets or whatever.  Help is 
becoming available - real help - more and more for folks of all ages.
.
By the way, WELCOME ABOARD, glad to have you - even if we disagree with
you on some things.
--- TriToss (tm) Professional 11.0 - #66
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