How many years did you abuse alcohol
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
Abused alcohol from about the age of
17 to 30. Feb 1990 had a bad car accident
spending 10 days in the hospital. August
1990 hit bottom and entered rehab via
a family intervention.
28 yrs of a continuous recovery program
incorporated in my everyday life to achieve
a healthy, blessed, honest sober way of life
today.
17 to 30. Feb 1990 had a bad car accident
spending 10 days in the hospital. August
1990 hit bottom and entered rehab via
a family intervention.
28 yrs of a continuous recovery program
incorporated in my everyday life to achieve
a healthy, blessed, honest sober way of life
today.
Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 28
Start drinking regularly 5 years ago at 32. Began drinking heavily ~3 years ago. Started off as a couple shots of vodka before work and maybe ten or so after. Then I progressed to bringing a water bottle, 16oz, full of vodka everyday and drinking all of it throughout my shift. Never ate at during lunch and breaks. Sat in the car downing the bottle.
Then Id go home and finish maybe another 10 shots before bed. Even on my days off running errands or going anywhere, I kept my trusty bottle with me while driving around. Incredibly stupid and incredibly lucky I never got pulled over. At this point though I never got traditionally drunk. Just numb so my driving wasnt affected. I stopped getting hangovers but my health got completely sacked.
So after about 3 years of this I finally attempted sobriety and am currently on day 15. I don't feel too terribly different but Im so thankful Im not feeling nauseated 24/7 and can enjoy food once more. Cravings come and go but Im just taking it one day at a time, because I guess its all mental at this pont.
Then Id go home and finish maybe another 10 shots before bed. Even on my days off running errands or going anywhere, I kept my trusty bottle with me while driving around. Incredibly stupid and incredibly lucky I never got pulled over. At this point though I never got traditionally drunk. Just numb so my driving wasnt affected. I stopped getting hangovers but my health got completely sacked.
So after about 3 years of this I finally attempted sobriety and am currently on day 15. I don't feel too terribly different but Im so thankful Im not feeling nauseated 24/7 and can enjoy food once more. Cravings come and go but Im just taking it one day at a time, because I guess its all mental at this pont.
Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,943
I’m always a bit wary of answering this. When I was a heavy drinkers years ago, I read on google that cirrhosis normally occurred in people who’d drunk for x years. I remember thinking I had plenty of time left! By all rights, I should have developed serious liver disease so I’m very lucky indeed not to have done so.
Saying that, I’ll try and answer with numbers.
Age 18 to 26: “moderate” drinker, 2 beers a day
Age 27 to 35: “above average” drinker, 3 beers a day
Age 36 to 47: heavy drinker, 4 to 5 beers or a bottle of wine a day.
Age 47 to 48: heavy to “moderate” drinker, half a bottle of wine a day
Age 49 to date: Zero
Even though I’ve written “moderate”, all the above amounts - and more importantly the fact I drank every day with no rest days - are dangerously high.
At age 46, I started getting “liver” pains. Despite this, I continued to drink, which is absolutely insane I realise now. These pains improved when I cut down and lost weight, but the urge to drink more was my big concern, so I quit.
In summary, heavy drinking for 13 years - very dangerous indeed, and I’m thankful beyond words to get away with no more than a fatty liver
Saying that, I’ll try and answer with numbers.
Age 18 to 26: “moderate” drinker, 2 beers a day
Age 27 to 35: “above average” drinker, 3 beers a day
Age 36 to 47: heavy drinker, 4 to 5 beers or a bottle of wine a day.
Age 47 to 48: heavy to “moderate” drinker, half a bottle of wine a day
Age 49 to date: Zero
Even though I’ve written “moderate”, all the above amounts - and more importantly the fact I drank every day with no rest days - are dangerously high.
At age 46, I started getting “liver” pains. Despite this, I continued to drink, which is absolutely insane I realise now. These pains improved when I cut down and lost weight, but the urge to drink more was my big concern, so I quit.
In summary, heavy drinking for 13 years - very dangerous indeed, and I’m thankful beyond words to get away with no more than a fatty liver
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: West Tn
Posts: 3,043
Originally Posted by Gabe1980 
20 years for me. Daily hash smoker for a few years before that.
I just never wanted to feel x
I just never wanted to feel x
I didn't want to feel either.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 123
Originally Posted by DriGuy
I drank for 30 years, and in retrospect, I consider it all abuse. If drinking patterns can be divided according to abusive/non-abusive, I really can't say when that transition took place. It just kept getting worse.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 87
Social, like once a week 18 to 31 or so. Heavy 31-33, Just about every day 34-35. The last couple months were out of control and the last few weeks could barely eat, just drank throughout the days. Now at about 10 months since my last drink, and still can't believe how quickly and horrific it got. I'm doing a lot for my recovery and thankfully have a ton of support, but it still scares me so much to think how progressive this disease is.
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