In 1990 I was arrested for drunk driving. At the
time the rules were much more lax than they are today and I was sentenced to one
year probation, six months restricted license, and ordered to attend one
12-Step meeting per week. I was also given a $500 fine.
In 1991 I was arrested for driving under the
influence twice in one week in different cities. My probation for the first DUI had ended less
than one month earlier. I hired a retired judge to be my defense attorney and
understood I was in a lot of trouble. To
make a long story short my attorney changed the court dates so they were within
a week of each other and since the court systems weren’t using electronic
records in 1991 the state didn’t know I had two DUI’s in one week until after
the sentencing date. I pleaded guilty to second impaired in one city and second
DUI in the other city. I now had a total of three DUI’s on my record but I was
given a very lenient sentence in both cities. Both courts gave me an $1100
fine, one year suspension of my driver’s license with a restricted license
after 90 days, drug addiction counseling, and I was ordered to
attend 12-Step meetings three times a week for one year.
Now that I was being forced to attend 12-Step groups,
the courts had my full attention. I knew that if I didn’t attend it would be a
violation of my probation, which meant possible jail time. I reluctantly went to the meetings, was the
last to show up and the first to leave.
The main thing that annoyed me was the slogans. “Keep it simple.” “One
day at a time.” “Let go, let God.” There was also way too much smiling and
laughter. I really didn’t dislike the
people at the meetings, I just thought the happiness was an act and sooner or
later I expected them to ask for donations, or membership fees.
I made friends with a few members and they started
asking me questions. “Do you have a sponsor?” “Do you need a ride?” “Why haven’t
you called me?” Eventually I did get a sponsor, ask for rides, and called them
because they became my friends.
I also started to get involved with the 12-Step groups. I
made coffee, set up tables, took down tables. I chaired meetings. It wasn’t
hard work and I noticed the more I became involved, the more friends I made.
Before I knew it I had lots of friends at meetings all over town.
Although the 12-Step meetings and my new friends
were a huge part of my sobriety, I needed more. I was also becoming more
involved with addiction group counseling. Our group would meet once a week on Wednesday
evening from 7pm to 8:30pm. The group was similar to a 12-Step meeting but much
more detailed on each person’s problems. Every week we would focus on each
member of the group for about ten or fifteen minutes. If we weren’t focusing on our own problems we
were sharing our thoughts and ideas with other members of the group. Our
Counselor was a trained addiction professional and she was able to get us to
open up about our issues, resentments, and goals.
The combination of having a sponsor, being involved
with 12-Step fellowships, and drug addiction counseling is what helped keep me
sober. It wasn’t willpower, that’s for sure. Drug addiction and alcoholism are
a disease and willpower does not play a part. I learned that I had to change my
lifestyle, get to the bottom of my resentments, and accept the fact that I had
a disease. Today when someone tells me
people who can’t stop using drugs or alcohol have no 'willpower' I suggest that
they try using 'willpower' the next time they get a dose of diarrhea.
If you are having a problem with drug addiction or alcoholism please contact the Healing Point Clinic at 855-SOBER-51. They have offices located in Livonia and Commerce Township.