I'm sorry if this sounds like it should be in a teen magazine or something but I don't want anyone to make the same mistake I did.
This is the first time I have been sober since Friday afternoon.
I'm 16 and I have an alcohol and drug problem.
I started drinking and smoking weed like most teenagers who start at school friends parties. Then it got worse and I found myself getting drunk and high on the streets with a couple of "friends".
I lost most of the real friends I had because of these problems. So I got depressed and was taking basically everything and anything that would give me a high. And I started stealing money off my parents.
At one of these parties I ended up sleeping with a girl and making her pregnant. So that ment I had to pay for her for her to have an abortion.
After this my Dad put me in rehab and I thought I got over both those problems, but seen as I have few good friends I slipped back into drinking. While I was drunk I went down to a local youth club and said to one of my female friends "I can force myself apon you any time I want and you can't do a single thing about it". Lucky for me I suppose her boy friend knocked me out. Now I’ve just got out of hospital and have come to realise that I have thrown everything that was good in my life away. I through away school, my friends, the respect of my parents and I am now unemployable.
Please don't make the same mistake I did. Don't take this like I'm looking for pity cause i don't deserve it. I have nothing left... apart from drink.... No I have nothing.

They say the hardest part is addmitting that you have a problem, if you need to talk there is many of us here that can help you and just take it one day at a time and apologize to your friend they will most likely forgive you and help you too. O and BTW hello [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

Seriously bro, I don't care how much you mess up, you can always fix things. I don't know how things work in England, but here in the U.S, when you turn 18 your juvenile record is pretty unimportant. Obviously your parents still care about you to stick with you on this and get you into rehab. I know it's hard to do, but you really need to ditch your friends. Find some friends that won't keep pulling you into those situations. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear that, I kinda know how you feel.
I almost had the same problem at a certain time in my life...about 7 years ago. I was drunk most of the summer dropped out of school and I threw away eeverything good in my life and when I realised it I almost commited a suicide but the thought of my little brother who was 3 at the time kept me from doing it. I sought help and went back to school a graduated and apologised to all the people who I had treated badly. I didn't ask for their forgivness just made them know I was sorry.

If I were you I'd try to get into school and go on with your life, thats what I did, and while my life is not exactly a bed of roses then at least I'm alive. Like Blade said one day at a time.

I hope you'll be okey.

Well, if you ever need any help, like Blade said, there's us here, and I'm sure you can get through these times, try not to worry about what you haven't got, but what you can make out of the situation.
(Even though I know it probably sounds corny, and easier said than done.)

Oh man sorry to hear about that. I am glad to hear that you've accepted your mistake and are moving on. Maybe you should try to talk to some of your old friends. When they see you're sincere they should forgive you. Hopefully... Oh and Hello! [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

Sorry to hear that.What can i say?I'll try to give you some
advice,hope it helps.You've already admitted to yourself you've got a serious problem.That's a start.Obviously you have trouble solving them alone,so it might be a good idea to get some professional help.
Try to get a steady rhythm,make sure you eat at regular times,make sure you sleep enough,and pick up school,or maybe get a job(is it possible in the UK to work at 16?).

The respect you lost will be VERY hard to get back,but show to the people you care about you try.It will be a long way back,but the sooner you start,the faster you'll be back.Talk alot,it will make it easier for other people to help you.If you've got a real friend,s/he
will forgive your mistakes(but not forget them).

I hope i don't sound like a know-it-all,i only tried to give you the best advice i could.May you have the strength to carry on,and make the future something to look forward too.

All the best

The above advices are sound ones but i would like to add that you should get a hobby. Don't get me wrong, i'm not implying anything here. I mean, you should try to find something which you are interested in and gets you out of the house and into an environment with other people who are interested in the same thing. If you really like what you are doing, you will not want to screw it up because of alcohol or drugs. And it(s also a great way of making new (and good) friends.

[ 02-19-2002: Message edited by: JR Jansen ]</p>

<font color="orange">Evil Al</font>

First, I want to congratulate you on having the maturity to realize you have a problem. As others have stated, that's the biggest step to recovery.

Second, while it may seem like your whole world has crashed down around you, I promise that it hasn't. Two years from now - if you stay straight - this will just be a very bad memory with a lot of regrets. But in five years, this episode will be in your "distant" past.
Sixteen is FAR too young to declare yourself "unemployable". Trust me...you've still got your whole life ahead of you. You're just now getting started. Look up your former "non-party" friends. Let them know that you want to "stay clean" and that you need their help. If your friendship was genuine, I'm sure they'll be willing to help.

I've never had to face the problems you're having right now, so I can't say that I know how you feel...but I DO know that a TRUE friend is one of the most important things to have at a time like this....and you've just gained more than 6000 new friends by coming here.

Amen to all the good advise given to you and all the words of encouragement posted here!

You're still young and have your whole life ahead of you to enjoy doing good things for yourself and others without using or drinking.

You can still get a H.S. education and even go to college...your life is not ruined, it is only just beginning!

Definitely hang around with people who won't drag you down!
Its even harder to stop the nonsense when you get older (believe me) and I wish you the best in all that you set out to do.

I am a H.S. dropout, former long-time (over 16 years) smoker/drinker who only started working at getting my life together when an auto accident (with a drunk behind the wheel) almost ended it.
After 8 full years of recuperation from the accident and 8 more years of not knowing if or when the internal damage I sustained may end my life, I just turned 40 and am finally a freshman in college...don't do what I did!

Best of Luck to you and count me in as one of your friends. [img]smile.gif[/img]

We're here, Evil Al. There's a broad range of people here, ages, experiences, outlooks. We're a wide flung family of nearly 7000 entirely different individuals--and we're all right here if you need to vent, ask for advice, or just want to gab. Heck, we'll even give advice when you *don't* ask for it! :D

Oh, and welcome to the insanity we like to call IW home! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

if you really want to try and avoid your problem, get a hobby like going to IW everyday, get a good RPG video game and play like hell and once your finish with that, get another one and so on. believe me that that is a very good distraction [img]smile.gif[/img] . of course you do have to watch out for grades and stuff. just listen to these people in IW (ironworks), because some of them share your experience and thiers may be even worse, yet they are still alive and posting here [img]smile.gif[/img] . so follow the phase "if they can do it, so can i" and just try your best. like someone said "you just gained 6000 new friends" [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thank you everyone for the advise. You don't know how much it means to me to know their are people out there who know what to say.
Maybe i can look at this in a different light. I could try and help my former friends to get their lives straight before it is too late for them (that's if they want help).
I have apologised to my friend for being untoward and she has said she would help me.
Also i went to the job center today and i'm going on a skill seakers training course in bussiness admin. I spoke to the director while arranging a time to come in and he said he doesn't care about my past all he cares about is that i'm trying to get my life back on the right track.
Once again thanks for the advise.

Al, I hear you. I spent the years between 15 and 23 stoned. Everyday. Many of my friends died. Some of them did permanent damage to themselves.

But I quit. Years ago, I quit. I haven't done anything but have the occaisonal glass of wine or mixed drink for a long long time. I finished college, got a graduate degree, got married, and I have a happy, healthy productive life. You can too. It might mean you have to cut yourself off from your friends for a while, if you can't say no when you are around them. But the rewards are great.

Don't give up.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Evil Al:
Thank you everyone for the advise. You don't know how much it means to me to know their are people out there who know what to say.
Maybe i can look at this in a different light. I could try and help my former friends to get their lives straight before it is too late for them (that's if they want help).
I have apologised to my friend for being untoward and she has said she would help me.
Also i went to the job center today and i'm going on a skill seakers training course in bussiness admin. I spoke to the director while arranging a time to come in and he said he doesn't care about my past all he cares about is that i'm trying to get my life back on the right track.
Once again thanks for the advise.<hr></blockquote>

Fantastic. :D
I wish you the best!

That's GREAT news about the job center, AL.
The director sounds like a fair and just person. This is what I was saying last night...you will find a LOT of employers don't care about your past (after all, thiers may have been very similar). All they care about is whether you do your job well or not.

Waaaaay back in the 70's, there was a popular commercial here in America with an optimistic message that may serve as a good "mantra" for the journey you're beginning.

<font color="lime">Today is the first day of the rest of your life</font>


Like I said before, AL, your life isn't over....it's JUST now beginning.

May God watch over you and carry you through the rest of your journey.

Remember Evil Al, there are lots of people out there who care for you!

Evil Al, never underestimate the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. I was in a similar situation to you about 4 years ago when I was 24, partying, drinking, popping e and snorting coke every weekend, but I got over it because I realised that my whole life was in front of me and I was not taking advantages of the opportunities that were in front of me, and I was throwing my life (and my hard-earned money) away. The turning point was realizing I had a problem and wanting to do something about it. I won't lie to you, it wasn't easy, because I had to change habits that were in place for some time AND hold down a high-stress job. BUT I did get over it - all I needed was resolve and commitment to make my life better.

Now my whole life IS in front of me. I've got a great job and lots of friends who love me, and I don't feel like there's anything that I can't achieve in life. I feel like I've looked into the Abyss and survived. What didn't break me has made me stronger. The pit looks deep right now, but you *can* climb out of it. Many people have. Day one starts TODAY. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Don't lose heart. You've got to WANT to change your life - and I sense that you do. Join a support group if you don't feel you can do it on your own. Friends that don't care about you, ■■■■ them off. Drug friends, ■■■■ them off. You don't need them! Talk to people, that always helps. Get it off your chest. Do one thing a day that makes you feel good about yourself, and go from there. Smile at someone. Make someone happy. Small steps lead to big leaps. Rebuild your faith in yourself to overcome.

Take care, God bless, and we're here for you if you need us - and I mean that. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 02-23-2002: Message edited by: Memnoch ]</p>

Memnoch you are right I can over come this with the help of all my friends in the IW and my friends in the "real world".
I didn't know that so many people have been in the same boat as me. It really helps to hear people saying that they have been there before and have got through it. I just hope that I can be as strong as those people. But with over 7000 people and myself behind me, how can I fail? I owe it to myself, everyone I let down in the past and everyone who is helping me.
Things are already starting to look up [img]smile.gif[/img] .
Thank you everyone once again for the advice and the prayers.

I totally agree with JR, because I know of someone who was badly addicted, and life was messing up, but he started a hobby and was really dedicated and enjoying it, he not only was too busy with his hobby, but was spending his money on it and was no lonnger with those so called 'friends.'

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Evil Al:
Thank you everyone for the advise. You don't know how much it means to me to know their are people out there who know what to say.
Maybe i can look at this in a different light. I could try and help my former friends to get their lives straight before it is too late for them (that's if they want help).
I have apologised to my friend for being untoward and she has said she would help me.
Also i went to the job center today and i'm going on a skill seakers training course in bussiness admin. I spoke to the director while arranging a time to come in and he said he doesn't care about my past all he cares about is that i'm trying to get my life back on the right track.
Once again thanks for the advise.<hr></blockquote>

So glad to hear that, may the force be with you [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Evil Al:
Memnoch you are right I can over come this with the help of all my friends in the IW and my friends in the "real world".
I didn't know that so many people have been in the same boat as me. It really helps to hear people saying that they have been there before and have got through it. I just hope that I can be as strong as those people. But with over 7000 people and myself behind me, how can I fail? I owe it to myself, everyone I let down in the past and everyone who is helping me.
Things are already starting to look up [img]smile.gif[/img] .
Thank you everyone once again for the advice and the prayers.<hr></blockquote>

No problems mate. Just remember, there are a LOT of things in this life that we can't control, but our attitude and how we deal with adversity is not one of them. Choose your attitude! Good luck. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Alcohol and drugs almost ruined my life<hr></blockquote>

Leave them. Stay away from them. You can if you really want to. Just as I made myself stop playing Wizardry 8 and uninstalled the game from my system after realising I was getting much too hooked onto it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Find something else positive and enriching to occupy your time with, too. I recommend your local library.

One's life is in one's hands.

<font color="cyan">Well done Al, at least you have admitted it.

I'm here for you dude, I'm just another teenager...hehe.

And sound advice is not to "leave" alchohol, its to know when to stop drinking alcohol, which can be quite hard to do.

If you ever need to talk, PM me, as a 17yr old with experiance, I can probably relate to you with most of this....and the bf thing...been there done that... [img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img] , but he did come of worse than me, I just bled more, he went to hospital with concussion and a sore shoulder/back...i had a broken nose i think...who won? who knows.

Just keep it up Al!</font>