Magazine

July 2012: Both Sides of the Fence

One's in, one's out -- but both share the same solution

Man Inside

I took my first drink of beer at the age of 3. My mother was in a relationship with the man who became my stepfather. He was an alcoholic who drank nothing but high-proof bourbon. I grew up around this life and, at the age of 9, I was stealing alcohol from my stepfather. By the time I was 11 he didn't care, and we would get drunk together. My whole family is alcoholic and I thought I was an alcoholic because of where I came from. Even though I was only a child, I was drinking like an adult. It made me feel part of what was going on.

As I grew older, my problems... Login to read more
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