Charlie came to his first AA meeting when he had just turned 72, three years ago. He had enjoyed growing up in a Kent village and trained to become a chef, which led to a career that was varied and enjoyable. Married in his thirties to a lovely local girl they lived happily together and often enjoyed a bottle of wine with their weekend meals.

 

Charlie also had a pint or two at the local with friends when heading home from work. Seven years ago, following his retirement that they had both looked forward to, he unexpectedly lost his wife to cancer. So whiskey began to fill the void and drown his heartache.

 

He thought he would get over his loss. He attempted to control his drinking but he could not fail to see it was becoming daily and excessive. The harder he tried, the worse it got and more than once he stumbled and fell over, causing himself some nasty injuries.

 

Fortunately, he realised his pattern of drinking revealed an abnormal dependency and, by chance seeing a poster in his doctor’s surgery about Alcoholics Anonymous, he made a telephone call.

 

He thus found the solution to his problems - in AA’s Twelve Step recovery programme freely offered, along with a fellowship spanning the world. No longer alone, he’s happy and free!

Edith started drinking alcoholically aged 44 when she was a school teacher. To start with, she only drank now and again and during the school holidays. At first it didn’t affect her work. But over the next three years the drinking became a great deal more frequent after a promotion which brought her ever greater responsibilities.

 

Eventually, Edith’s drinking brought about frightening physical symptoms, occasional panic attacks, and absenteeism. She drank daily and could not function at all without alcohol. Finally, she was made redundant but she continued to drink, until her body packed up and she suffered a serious collapse followed by six weeks in a psychiatric hospital.

 

By good fortune there was a regular Sunday evening meeting of AA in the hospital where she was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and where she found the solution to her drinking.

 

That was all of twenty-seven years ago and she still likes to attend four meetings a week doing much to help others who have suffered in the same way, and she now enjoys a life at the age of 71 (but looking younger!) that she never imagined was possible.

 

Names have been changed in respect of anonymity, but Charlie and Edith are like millions of other AA members who are alive and well today.

 

There are thousands of AA meetings across the country, as well as all around the world. For more help and information, just ring AA’s confidential helpline: 0845 769 7555. Alternatively you can log on to the National AA website below.