I was outgoing and loved to be around people, and for a long time did just that. I had lots of friends and loved to party. I was married just out of high school, but that lasted only four years and I was divorced. I thought now that my freedom was going to be my ticket for the best time of my life. Partying with drugs and booze was fun and it grew from a part time to a full time place in my life. People that I had met were selling and distributing drugs.  It wasn’t long before I too was planning and executing drug moves of very large quantities, sometimes a $100,000.00 a week. 

I became very confident that my life was okay and that everything was all right. However, my parents were always praying for my well being and me. But I was very far from letting God run my life.  My life was becoming darker and darker and smaller and smaller but I was determined to have my cake and eat it too.  

We decided to expand our drug operation and move it to the east coast.  A legitimate company was set up as a front for the drugs to be moved.  The move was made. I was all set for new horizons.  But the Lord had different plans for my life. I had a father and mother who knew that God was able to turn my life around. Little did I know that God was going to turn my life back to Jesus.

Shortly after graduation from high school I joined the US Merchant Marines.  During this period, I commenced smoking cigarettes, drinking whiskey and cursing like the sailor I was. Several years past, then I met and married my beautiful wife, Lorraine.  I remained in the Merchant Marines, still smoking, drinking, and cursing.

Except for the long separations, Lorraine and I were doing fine.  Finally, because the hardships of the long separations were making life so difficult for my family, I retired from the Merchant Marines and accepted employment with Duke University.  Things were much smoother, but I kept on living my old 
sailor lifestyle. 

Five years later, life changed again, Lorraine accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.  That didn't change me though, I still continued my old ways.   Lorraine changed.

My name is John and I’m a drug addict.  For almost 25 years I was an active, using addict.  Today I am a recovering addict and a Christ follower.

I was what some people call a “functional” addict.  For 25 years I drank and used drugs on a daily basis while maintaining a career and a family.  I used for many reasons.  I used to celebrate and to mourn.  I used when I was tired and when I wanted to calm down.  I used all the time because that’s what I did.  Even when I acknowledged that my drug use (alcohol is a drug) was becoming a problem I continued to use.  I thought I had to, I thought I couldn’t quit.

I'm a 12-year-old boy and my family isn't doing too well.  You see, my mom’s an Alcoholic.  It's been very hard and I can’t keep it inside anymore.  I don’t think she has been sober all week.  She has been an Alcoholic as long as I can remember.  I think it started right after I started school.