I have three different ways I introduce myself. When I’m at work, I am the chief development officer of Subway. When I’m at an AA meeting, I am an alcoholic. And when I’m speaking in forums about my recovery outside of AA, I am a person in long-term recovery. For many people, cannabis and alcohol is a social thing. Maybe it enhances a moment or an evening. It can create opportunities to be social, opportunities to share with one another, that may not have presented themselves had drugs and alcohol not been involved. Social lubrication can be a positive. It’d be great if, gee, we were all ultimately lubricated naturally, but that’s not reality. When these things take place in moderation, I see no problem with that. These people can put down the substances at the end of the night and walk away. For me, it was an escape. The problem began when, instead of desiring that enhancement effect, the chase of the high became my only goal. The line had been crossed. Addiction took root. Higher Power It has been 36 years since I have had a drink or a drug. More specifically, I haven’t had one since June 6, 1983. While this doesn’t define me, it will forever be a part of me. Try as I might, I wasn’t able to quit drinking on my own. I give credit to my higher power. I had to accept that when I was in the throes of my addiction, I wasn’t getting …
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