Young People in AA
Young People in AA
It is commonly thought that people do not become ‘alcoholics’ until they are in their 30’s, 40’s or beyond, and whilst this can certainly be the case, many have found that their drinking became a problem almost as soon as they started. Today, many young people are finding that alcoholism is something that can affect people of all ages and that age is no barrier to recovery from alcoholism.
In Leeds, Alcoholics Anonymous now has more young people than ever, many joining in their twenties or their teens. These young people are not miserable because they cannot drink but free to enjoy the lives they were supposed to live, safe in the knowledge they’re sparing themselves the painful effects of prolonged, long-term untreated alcoholism.
Many might see AA as the end of the road, but our experience shows it is the end of pain and suffering and the beginning of a new and meaningful life.
Where to find AA Young Persons meeting in Leeds
- Tuesday 7:30pm – 8:30pm: Leeds City Centre, Glassbox LS10 1EG
- Wednesday 7:30 – 8:30pm: Woodhouse Community Centre. LS6 2NY.
- Saturday tbc – Wakefield
You might feel anxious going to a meeting for the first time. Everyone who attends Young Persons AA has been where you are. They understand your fears. There are no forms to fill in. No fees to pay. You do not have to talk. You can just come along and listen.
What you will find is a warm welcome. And you will probably feel that you are with people who really understand you. Perhaps for the first time.
Read more about ‘Meetings’ here.
Call the AA Helpline 0800 917 7650 for more information, or if you just want to talk to someone (in absolute confidence) about your drinking. The people on our helpline are all recovered alcoholics; they care and understand. No matter how bad it feels.
Do I have a drink problem?
Watch this video.
It might help you decide if you have a problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SfEQP6iOl8&t=1s
These questions may help
These questions may also help you understand if you have a drink problem:
Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
Most of us in AA made all kinds of promises to ourselves and our families. We could not keep them. Then we came to AA, and AA said: ‘Just try not to drink today.’. (If you do not drink today, you cannot get drunk today.)
Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking – stop telling you what to do?
In AA we do not tell anyone to do anything. We just talk about our own drinking, the trouble we got into, and how we stopped. We will be glad to help you, if you want us to.
Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk?
We tried all kinds of ways. We made our drinks weak. Or just drank beer. Or we did not drink cocktails. Or only drank on weekends. You name it, we tried it. But if we drank anything with alcohol in it, we usually got drunk eventually.
Have you had a drink in the morning in the past year?
Do you need a drink to get started, or to stop shaking? This is a pretty sure sign that you are not drinking ‘socially’.
Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble?
At one time or another, most of us have wondered why we were not like most people, who really can take it or leave it.
Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?
Be honest! Doctors say that if you have a problem with alcohol and keep on drinking, it will get worse – never better. Eventually, you will die, or end up in an institution for the rest of your life. The only hope is to stop drinking.
Has your drinking caused trouble at home?
Before we came into AA, most of us said that it was the people or problems at home that made us drink. We could not see that our drinking just made everything worse. It never solved problems anywhere.
Do you ever try to get ‘extra’ drinks at a party because you do not get enough?
Most of us used to have a ‘few’ before we started out if we thought it was going to be ‘that’ kind of part. And if drinks were not served fast enough, we would go someplace else to get more.
Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don’t mean to?
Many of us kidded ourselves into thinking that we drank because we wanted to. After we came to AA we found out that once we started to drink, we couldn’t stop.
Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking?
Many of us now admit that we ‘called in sick’ lots of times when the truth was that we were hungover or on a drunk.
Do you have ‘blackouts’?
A blackout is when there are drinking hours or days we cannot remember. When we came into AA we found that this is a pretty sure sign of alcoholic drinking.
Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink?
Many of us started to drink because drinking made life seem better, at least for a while. By the time we go into AA we felt trapped. We were drinking to live and living to drink. We were sick and tired of being sick and tired.
These are just some of the things that thousands of recovering alcoholics have experienced at one time or another while they were drinking. If you answered ‘yes’ to over three of these questions. then you may be in trouble with your drinking and, maybe, it’s time you took a look at what your drinking might be doing to you.
Don’t face your alcohol problem alone. AA is here for you, whenever you are ready. You are not hopeless. You are not beyond help. You are worthy. And you can be free from the grip of alcohol and live the life you deserve
Call the AA Helpline 0800 917 7650 for more information, or if you just want to talk to someone (in absolute confidence) about your drinking.
You can follow this link to find more meetings in Leeds and surrounding areas.
