21 when I was first forced into rehab and AA. Didn't stick, because I didn't listen to anything. I hadn't been drinking much -- got into trouble with pills / pot. Then spent five more years abusing my body, getting in debt, going insane, almost having my heart explode...and still trying to use successfully -- doing research, basically. Would drink anything that poured, as often as I could get away with it. Was a daily drinker / user. I picked up different pills which basically kept me awake for 16 months straight. Nearly died and lost my mind. I had no choice but to surrender at age 26. I'd had enough -- and haven't been the same since. I asked for God's help, not on my terms, but on God's.
I'm now 27 and coming up on a year of sobriety on March 5th. And I'm no longer waking feeling sentenced to another day of living.