J’s* story: told in his own words at Day One’s Annual Celebration 2009
My name is J and I was introduced to alcohol when I was 12 years old. I watched my brothers grow older and have parties with alcohol and I wanted to be like that. When I was 15 I smoked my first joint and was hooked. As I got older I relied on drinking more and more and at 18 I got an O.U.I.
I came from a good family and I thought because no one in my family was an alcoholic I couldn’t be. I was kicked out of college at 19 after ending up in the hospital twice and was sent home. My parents told me to go to a year long rehab but I postponed as much as I could.
Finally, after robbing an FBI agent’s house, I was sent to jail and then I ended up at Day One Residential. I learned how to talk to people and live without using any substances. I have been sober for 22 months and intend to keep it that way. Day One gave me the structure and support I needed to help me to have a better future.
*Name has been changed