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The Founders Story

“My name is Jon, and I am not an alcoholic—that is, I was born with Alcoholism.”

I am not ashamed to admit this because it isn’t my fault, and the concept of it being one’s fault is killing innocent people every day. Something has got to change. I will use the word alcoholic to describe someone born with alcoholism per the definitions of this text, but I (we of Alc-A) don’t like such a label. Calling someone an alcoholic—non-book defined, isn’t any different than using racist words to describe someone of a different culture or ethnicity. It demeans us and allows those without alcoholism (who don’t understand it) to think they are better than us. If you are like me, know this: someone who thinks less of you or someone you know because they have alcoholism is the real mishap of society. They are like ignorant southerners that still bend the knee to the twisted beliefs of slavery.

            I have spent my entire teen and adult life battling alcoholism (About 22-years at the publication of this title.), bouncing from successful sobriety to depressing drunkenness. One day I am a respected mathematician or fiction author, and the next, a worthless drunk. I have no problems abstaining from the drink, for I am not addicted; I have a problem stopping when I start like so many people that suffer from alcoholism do. And, worst of all, I cannot or could not stop myself from taking that first sip.

            One may ask or say, “Why pick up a drink in the first place.” or “It’s your lack of willpower for choosing to drink.” Nonsense of the uneducated, unaccepting, and scared mind.

Like most average humans, when someone doesn’t understand something, it makes them scared and or insecure. So, they create two scenarios: one that makes them look good (in their mind) and another that makes said person look bad (in their mind). They can now compare themselves to that person, making them a better person (in their mind).

All ideas are made up in their own head, just like someone thinking they are better than someone else because of the color of their skin or their educational status. It is just how a lot of people deal with their insecurities. Instead of facing their own issues, they paint the picture of someone else's issues being worse than theirs. They then say something like, “Well, at least I am not a drunk.” or “I have a job and a degree, so I don’t have issues like them.” ... Hope that makes sense. If it doesn’t, let me simplify: The judgmental person is purple, and the one they are judging is blue. They write the law that being blue is terrible, so they can now say, “I am purple – not blue, so I have no problems.” This allows them to scapegoat through life without ever maturing.

A person like this will often pivot themselves in a position of power to further enforce the delusion of the insecurities they don’t have. If you know or have someone like this in your life, it is best to avoid them. It is usually selfish behavior, which is harder to admit to than being an addict.

[Note: In this program, we think the first step to addiction (alcohol addiction or other) is admitting you have a problem. For alcoholics—those born with alcoholism, the first step is accepting you are born with this uncontrollable desire to be intoxicated. Until science can diagnose alcoholism properly and give an undeniable lab result just like testing for peanut allergies, we must accept that we are different than an average person. Just as someone who grew to be 7’6” tall is different from an average person.]

Also, let me be clear: I hate drinking with a passion; I despise it with all my heart. The pain and suffering it has brought me are so overwhelming that it seems impossible for me to pick up a drink again. Unfortunately, this is the baffling part of it. It