I am an Alcoholic, and my name is Evolutionary ;).
After having seen a few diaries (Patriot4peace) and many comments suggesting, and showing an interest in a new Daily Kos Group - I'm thinking of starting a new Group. This group would be similar in nature to our GUS Group (Giving up Smoking). I posted a diary yesterday asking about how to start a group (thinking it would be complex), and got some great suggestions from Indycam, Rebel GA, Twigg, Ojibwa, Chocolate Chris, Palantir, Vetwife, and TiaRachel - and using those suggestions, I'll start with an open thread Diary on the subject to see what we come up with! I especially welcome comments and suggestions from our GUS Group.
More below the Orange DT hallucination...
In these dark times, there's a lot of drinking and drugging going on. Some folks can have a drink, or get high - and then leave it alone. I call these "Social Drinkers", or "Social Substance users".
A little about Evolutionary - I spent twenty years drinking a quart of booze a day. I spent some of that time using other interesting substances. Then, one day, I learned I was to become a Dad. I made my first phone call to Alcoholics Anonymous, and was directed to a meeting here in Sacramento. I showed up at the Church in which the meeting was being held (Churches often offer free space to AA groups to have meetings - which puts them in the plus side for me, even though I am an atheist) and began the process of getting sober. I learned that you do not have to believe in God to get sober. There are many out there that do believe in God, and their belief helps them get sober too. There are many pathways to sobriety. Alcoholism knows no ideology, no specific religion, no class status, no color, no sexual preference. It's an equal opportunity killer.
Indycam gave me a direct link to the page on which a group can be started, so I have that now (much easier than I thought it would be), but I am going to hold off on starting the group, after reading suggestions from Ojibwa, Rebel GA, and Chocolate Chris. Their suggestions were to begin by having a regular open thread on the subject at a specific time and day of the week. If I see enough participation, and can find the right folks to help be Admin, act as editors, and some regular contributors - then we can start a group.
From the comments a few days ago from Webranding's Diary on the subject, I see that we have quite a few "Old Timers" (people with years of sobriety) among us. These people would be able to offer help and suggestions to others that may need help with their addiction.
I'll start with this open thread Diary on Drugs, Alcohol, and Politics to begin!
As suggested by Ojibwa and Chocolate Chris, it sounds like Sunday afternoons are a good time to post these Open Thread Diaries. I'm going to make it Sunday at 2pm, Pacific Time for the first one (after this one). I look forward to all of your comments, suggestions, and help. I will request that those with "time" volunteer to help administer, and edit the future Group Diaries. I would welcome contributors from all walks of life, and anyone with thoughts on the subject. Please edit the tags of the Diary as you see fit.
The Floor is Yours...