Have a drink on me

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Since we are talking addicition, probably the most impactful addiction on my life has been alcoholism. In 2018, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 80,000 people die from alcohol-related deaths each year in the United States. And alcohol continues to be one of the nation’s most preventable causes of death, second only to tobacco and a poor diet/sedentary lifestyle. Alcoholism has a profound effect on the entire body, especially the brain, heart, pancreas, mouth, liver and immune system. In spite of its negative impact, more Americans than ever before consume alcohol on a regular basis. As you have read in previous blog entries, both of my grandfathers had issues with alcohol. This is something that I have taken in and lived with.  Many of my family members suffer with this on many levels. I have attended AA, Al Anon, learned the 12 steps, met sponsors, chips, the whole 9 yards. I have learned to love my family members through this. I have friends and neighbors who suffer with this. Most people I know have at least one person in their sphere that suffer from or with this. Dealing with someone who has an addiction to alcohol is not something that you can understand unless you have gone through it. Alcoholism is the most legal way to numb yourself from emotional pain - and it hits all ages. I have seen it in high school, college, life after school. I have tried really hard to be as non-judgmental around this particular addiction. I have had to set boundaries, and I have done things that I am not proud of. It is hard to love someone through it. But I can safely say that I have not abandoned those in my life who struggle with this.

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