My guest on today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews is David D., a man whose story of descent into alcoholism—and steady climb back through the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous—reminds us that no one is immune to the reach of this disease.

Born into a relatively normal family and raised in a stable environment, David’s early life was free of the turmoil that marks so many stories of addiction. His introduction to drinking came later, during college, where fraternity life provided both the social setting and the permission to drink freely. In those years, his drinking appeared typical, part of the camaraderie and celebration that defined young adulthood.

After college, David built a promising career and enjoyed the outward signs of success. Drinking remained a social habit—something to accompany professional events or ease life’s minor stresses. But over time, that manageable pattern shifted. When business setbacks and personal losses began to mount, David found in alcohol the false comfort and control that every alcoholic comes to know too well.

The very solution he trusted soon became the source of his greatest problems. Relationships faltered, opportunities slipped away, and his health began to deteriorate. What had once been a coping mechanism became a slow-motion collapse of body and spirit. By early 2016, David’s drinking had ravaged his liver and other organs, and the prospect of death was no longer theoretical—it was imminent.

In February of that year, faced with the stark reality of what alcohol was doing to him, David reached out for help and found Alcoholics Anonymous. There, among others who had walked the same road, he discovered the grace and guidance that began to restore him to life.

Nearly a decade later, David’s story stands as living proof of the hope that resides in our fellowship and the redemptive power of a Higher Power. His journey from quiet suffering to purposeful sobriety offers strength and reassurance to anyone still struggling in the shadows.

So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, David D.

If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.

 I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]