Like many alcoholics, Quinten S. started drinking in his mid-adolescence amidst a chaotic home life. Alcoholism was not prevalent in his immediate family, but the vestiges from earlier generations were there nonetheless. Quinten’s alcohol use escalated quickly during his late teens, along with regular use of marijuana. In high school and later college, his use quickly turned into serious abuse of both substances. And though he stopped smoking weed to abide by the rules in his living arrangement, his drinking picked up to take its place. Finding himself a daily drinker, Quinten hid his growing functional alcoholism by drinking in isolation. By his early 20’s, he'd become a full-fledged blackout alcoholic with mounting consequences spilling over into his work life. Quinten had attended a single AA meeting a few years before his sobriety date, but refused a desire chip because he frankly wasn’t done drinking. So, things got worse until a week before his 25th birthday when Quinten dragged himself back into AA while still detoxing from his final spree. This time he took the desire chip and has now been sober nearly three years. That desire to stay sober has been fulfilled as Quinten got to work in the Program. Along the way, he has fulfilled service and sponsorship commitments and has remained close to his sober fellowship. If you’re in early AA recovery, I believe you’ll find Quinten’s story to be quite encouraging. That he escaped the throes of the disease in his late 20’s is strong evidence that sobriety is possible by following AA’s simple suggestions. For listeners with longer-term sobriety, Quinten’s description of his Program of Action is a fine reminder of the persistence necessary to stay on top of the disease. No matter where you are on your journey of recovery, please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother Quinten S.

If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to 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.

I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “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.

[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.]