My sobriety date is September 8^th 2009. I moved from San Diego to Manhattan Beach on September 7^th 2009 into a recovery house.  It was the best thing that I have ever done for myself. Inside of the recovery house I was given structure. I was taught how to hold myself and others accountable, how to be honest, open, willing, and how to show up for my life. I was also introduced to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I was told that I needed to get a sponsor and actively work the 12 steps and attend meetings. As a result of doing these things I have been able to maintain two years of continuous sobriety. I was nineteen years old when I entered the recovery house. I knew that I was done drinking and using drugs and could not deny the help that I was going to need would be severe.  I was inside of the recovery house for 13 months. My experience has been that I needed long term treatment. I have been to juvenile hall an inpatient program and from there transitioned into a rehab. During that time I was able to put together five months sober and relapsed about two weeks after discharging that rehab. I am not ashamed that my alcoholism brought to this place at such a young age. I am grateful for the opportunity to live my life to the fullest without having to take a drink or use a drug. What the recovery house and the program of Alcoholics Anonymous have given me is something that no drink or no drug could have provided me with. I am twenty years old today and live a beautiful sober life. I think that young sobriety is such an amazing gift that I hope any young adult suffering from this disease gets to experience.

-Courtney D.