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Diabetes and Alcohol Everybody wondered why “Stan” kept drinking, even after his doctor told him that he had developed Type II diabetes. A Cure For Alcoholism I have often compared being “powerless over alcohol” with being “powerless over the human condition,” when trying to give an example of how the disease of alcoholism robs us of any measure of control over our lives. The alcoholic is powerless over alcohol because there is no cure. People want a cure for alcoholism. Because there is no cure for the “human condition” and our addictive personalities, there is no cure for alcoholism. Is Your Child Exempt? If according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, nearly 80% of high school students have tried alcohol, it is easy to come to the conclusion that the potential for alcoholism or drug addiction is put into motion very early in life. What may start out as an “innocent” activity to fit in with friends, to have some fun, or to look older, turns into a life-changing struggle. The consequences are never a concern for the teenager, but the effects of alcohol can hit before the young person knows there is a problem, or even understands that a problem can be possible. Drying Out Is Not Enough Getting sober is not the only answer to alcohol abuse or alcoholism. I say that because people think that as long as somebody isn’t drunk, they’re sober. The idea of a dry drunk is hard to get your hands around, but it’s the key point to understanding that just because somebody isn’t drunk or isn’t drinking, that doesn’t mean they are free from dependence on alcohol or free from their alcoholism. Can‘t Let Go, Can’t Get Help “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” Step 3 of the 12-Step process offers so many people so much difficulty. I call it the “G” word, which in modern American society is a major stumbling block. The idea of God loving us, or caring for us, might provide a warm and fuzzy, but the idea of actually allowing God to take over and guide us is an entirely different matter. Having someone else telling us to do something, or how to do something, or the idea of us not being in control over our lives is problematic. When Alcohol is feeding, Life Does not Matter Erin Howard probably never thought life could get so messed up. She was locked up in the Erie (PA) County Jail, in lieu of $75,000 bail, after she was charged with drunk driving following a crash that killed her six year-old son Samuel on June 14. Howard, 26, was given a 24-hour pass by a judge to attend her son’s funeral in Hamilton, Ohio, across the border. She had orders to attend the funeral and return by 3 p.m. the next day. She didn’t. Addiction Crosses Generations It was supposed to be a fun day at the beach for Carlos and his family, with swimming, sand castles and maybe an ice cream cone. Everybody was there that day. His mom and dad and three older sisters were with him and they were all looking forward to a day of play, not a day for near death. Way Over the Line I’ll never forget the last time I saw my friend “Chuck.” He was in the hospital and went for a visit, having no idea how serious his condition was and certainly no idea that I would not see him again. We had worked together in the auto racing business for many years and I always like being around him, mainly because he was the life of the party. Family Matters Everybody knew that “Jerry” needed to get some help with his drinking. His routine of having a couple of drinks with the boys after work began to include several after dinner drinks as well. The change in him was gradual, but over time everybody knew something had to be done. Jerry had missed meetings with his daughter’s teacher, and had not attended a soccer game or dance recital in months. Way Over the Line I’ll never forget the last time I saw my friend “Chuck.” He was in the hospital and went for a visit, having no idea how serious his condition was and certainly no idea that I would not see him again. We had worked together in the auto racing business for many years and I always like being around him, mainly because he was the life of the party.