Want a better life? Stop drinking alcohol.

I don’t care what people say, alcohol is one of the most addictive drugs ever invented, and possibly the most dangerous, at least for me.
Historically alcohol abuse has been a problem for as long as people have been distilling grain. Since it’s so familiar, alcohol can be worse than any other drug. Countless people struggle for years in vain to stop drinking alcohol as the drug slowly but surely destroy their bodies and minds. Drinking rehab is much more popular than any other sort of drug rehab program, and it will only keep growing. If you don’t believe me ask Lindsey Loham.

Now I used to be a real alcohol abuser. When I was a teenager, just like nearly everyone else in the 70’s, I drank and smoked pot. I preferred to smoke but it was much easier to get wasted on alcohol. Now don’t get me wrong, I don't blame the drug policy for my alcohol addiction, but I do see it as a contributing factor. If alcohol is the only way you can get high legally, then people who are prone to alcoholism are much more likely to get addicted to it instead of using safer alternatives.

There is obviously more to it than that, however. Otherwise, I would have stopped drinking alcohol a lot earlier. Part of it was the stress of growing up the son of a deputy sheriff in the 60’s and 70’s. You see in many ways, I'm a pretty straight edge, repressed sort of guy. For the longest time I had to have my emotions tightly under control and I think the stress of that attitude contributed to my drinking problems. You see, I could be a different person when I was drunk – uninhibited, reckless, and free. It gave me an excuse to live out fantasies that I had always had – the ones I repressed and wouldn't even admit to myself. Suddenly, under the influence of alcohol, I was a daring, fun and carefree guy. The drinks I had took me away from the worries of daily problems. The problem was once I started drinking, I never wanted to stop.

My friends or family never did an invention for me, although my best friend’s my once suggested that I was an alcoholic and told me I should get some help. After some rather traumatic and embarrassing incidents I finally realized that I had a drinking problem, but I refused to get help. I didn't believe that I needed help to stop drinking alcohol. I figured that I could do it all on my own through my own willpower. Fortunately, although it doesn’t happen often, when I began training in martial arts again after a hiatus of nearly 10 years, I was able to change my focus and control my drinking.

Unfortunately, there are very few people that abused alcohol as badly as I did who can stop drinking alcohol through sheer force of will alone. Usually when alcoholics quit, it is usually because they have found the right program and the right friends to give help them travel a different path.

That’s where a 12 step rehabilitation program can be extremely helpful. I have attended these programs with friends that needed the help. Most are very faith focused which can be a tremendous aid to many people. I witnessed many of my friend stop drinking alcohol through a combination of faith, willpower and a community that supported their decision to stay clean and sober. Whatever your beliefs are, you can find a way to overcome addiction if that is what you want. It just takes a little faith, an iron will and some really good friends.