Part 3

"One drink is too many, and a thousand never enough." When I saw that saying, I cried with relief. There were other people like Andrew. He has two states of being; hellbent or sober.There is no in between; he is one of those really sick people.

Moderation, tapering, substitution, and medication assisted does not work for him. Been there, done that. One drink, one snort, one toke, one tylenol #3 and he is off and running. It happens so fast and so deep, no one can stop it. It is good news that we no longer pretend he does not have a disease from which he will never recover.

In between the hellbents, have been solid periods of sober. He has acquired skills, working as an electrician apprentice, laying tile in luxury homes, managing a coffee shop. He worked at a gym, and my friend taught him about personal training. There are many unconventional jobs out there, he has always been able to work. He can read, write, and knows enough 'rithmetic. He can sell anything to anybody.

He owes around $8000. That is nothing compared to what he has spent on drugs and alcohol in the last 8 years. He can have a clean financial slate in no time, if he wants it.

The good stuff is this: Andrew has been sober. He knows what it takes. For him, that is abstinence, meetings, a sponsor, and guarding against complacency every minute for the rest of his life.

I believe he can do it.

The End.