Young & Sober
Stories by Those Who Found AA Early
From the Pages of AA Grapevine
Other books published by
AA Grapevine, Inc.
The Language of the Heart (& eBook)
The Best of Bill (& eBook)
Spiritual Awakenings (& eBook)
I Am Responsible: The Hand of AA
The Home Group: Heartbeat of AA
Emotional Sobriety: The Next Frontier (& eBook)
Spiritual Awakenings II (& eBook)
In Our Own Words: Stories of Young AAs in Recovery
Beginners' Book
Voices of Long-Term Sobriety
A Rabbit Walks into a Bar
Step by Step: Real AAs, Real Recovery (& eBook)
Emotional Sobriety II: The Next Frontier (& eBook)
In Spanish
El Lenguaje del Corazón
Lo Mejor de Bill (& eBook)
Lo Mejor de La Viña
El Grupo Base: Corazón de AA
In French
Les meilleurs articles de Bill
Le Langage du cœur
Le Groupe d'attache : Le battement du cœur des AA
Young & Sober
Stories by Those Who Found AA Early
From the Pages of AA Grapevine
AAGRAPEVINE, Inc.
New York, New York
Copyright © 2012 by AA Grapevine, Inc.
475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115
All rights reserved
May not be reprinted in full or in part, except in short passages for purposes of review
or comment, without written permission from the publisher.
AA and Alcoholics Anonymous are registered trademarks of AA World Services, Inc.
Twelve Steps copyright © AA World Services, Inc.; reprinted with permission.
ISBN: 978-0-933685-92-5, Mobi: 978-1-938413-16-2, ePub: 978-1-938413-17-9
AA Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women
who share their experience, strength and hope
with each other that they may solve their common problem
and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for AA membership;
we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization
or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy,
neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stay sober
and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
©AA Grapevine, Inc.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
What It Was Like, What Happened Their drinking careers weren't long—but long enough
Nothing Left to Lose March 1997
Someday I'll Be Cured January 2003
CHAPTER TWO
I Earned My Seat Young, but no less an alcoholic
A Teenager's Tears of Hope October 2002
All in the Same Boat February 1987
Twenty-One and In Trouble Again July 2003
A Fresh Introduction to Hell July 1998
How Bad Is Bad Enough? October 2003
Haven't You Had Enough? August 1999
Seventeen and Sober January 1978
CHAPTER THREE
The Next Generation Growing up around AA is no guarantee against alcoholism
When I Was Sixteen, I Was Ready January 1978
Second-Generation AA October 1980
Blessed with the Memory of My Pain January 1996