DesertGuy - I responded under your other thread. If you are in a dangerous area and you have the option to move into a rental property your parents own that might be the best way to go. I was in an apartment in LA but back then the neighborhood was not too bad. I dug myself out of debt but it was hard. You might be better off around family. When I was in LA I refused to ask for help from my parents and I almost starved. I came close to being homeless. If you don't have to go through that don't. My father never said he was proud of me either. We had a rocky relationship his whole life. But the past is the past and if you can get to a safe place that might help with stopping drinking. You can turn things around I am sure.