James’ Journey to an Alcohol-Free Life

I was born in New Hampshire, lived in Alabama until I was 13, and then spent what I consider my formative years in San Antonio, Texas.

I had a great life growing up and as a young adult. When was 20 I went to Alaska for a vacation and then started to work there seasonally, going back there every summer to work. I would also work seasonally every winter in different places, including California and DC. I loved going to different places and seeing different parts of the country.

I also started drinking when I was 20. At first, this was just with friends, but as I often worked as a bartender in my seasonal jobs, alcohol was all around me, and by 2006 the drinking became a problem.

I got a few DUI’s, went to the hospital multiple times for alcohol poisoning, and caused my parents much worry. At that point, I realized that drinking was no longer fun and that I was drinking because I could not stop. Life was dull and flat. I decided this had to change.

A friend who I had met the first summer I spent in Alaska had done the Narconon program, and as it had obviously worked for him, I decided that I was going to do the Narconon program.

I had to travel 15 hours to get to Narconon from Anchorage, where I was living at the time. When I arrived at the Narconon Center I was very tired and hung over, and also anxious about what I would find as this was totally new to me.

Withdrawing was not fun, but the staff was great, treated me well, and helped me get through it with as little discomfort as possible. I felt hopeful that this would work.

The part of the program that stands out as the best for me was the sauna detoxification. This part of the program detoxifies the body of drugs and toxins, using exercise, vitamins, good nutrition, and sauna. As I went through this part of the program I felt better and better and by the end, I was feeling great and able to think clearly. It got me from the negative strata to square one, and I could then do the rest of the program to completion.

“I did the program in 2011, opened a business in 2012 and finished college in 2013 with a degree in Small Business Administration. These are things I would never have been able to do before the program.”

I saw other students graduate from the program and was very happy for them and looked forward to graduating myself, and I did. I did the program in 2011, opened a business in 2012, and finished college in 2013 with a degree in Small Business Administration. These are things I would never have been able to do before the program.

I did drink sporadically after the program, but nowhere close to the volume and frequency I had before entering the Narconon program, and after July 2015, with my earlier grounding in the Narconon program, and with help from my wonderful wife, I finally quit even the occasional drinking and have not had a drink since.

My relationship with my family is great. My mother has since passed away. I was able to help my father, who took this very hard, and to be a stable person for my siblings. This is something I would never have been able to do with the alcohol “monkey” on my back.

My advice to anyone who has an alcohol addiction is to get help to deal with it, and never give up. It is a battle that can be won.

I am able to live a life without the hurdles and challenges of an alcohol addiction and they can have the same.

James, Narconon Graduate