Girl Meets Beer

I take my first gulp, and it burns as it slides down my throat, through my esophagus, and into my stomach. The sensation, the feeling, is something I can’t resist. One more gulp turns into two beers later, which leaves me unable to stand straight and my head spinning. I laugh and giggle, thinking the foolishness is the funniest thing in the world, and I drink some more. When it’s time to go home, I slide into bed without my parents noticing a thing. Finally, there is something I can get away with that makes me feel good.

My addiction to alcohol began this way. It started with an extended curfew, and turned into skipping classes to get buzzed and sometimes not even coming home. It started with a couple beers, and eventually escalated to hard liquor. My addiction to alcohol ruined many of my friendships, deteriorated my parents’ trust in me, and ruined my relationship with myself. Still to this day, I have urges to drink, but now after one year of being alcohol free, I am now able to control it, and say “no.”

In future Harbor Light issues, I will discuss many of the facets of alcohol addiction.