I have been sober now for more than five years and a member of AA in Haverhill for more than four years.
My life before I got sober was not a nice place to be.
I was regularly in trouble with the police and even twice ended up in prison – the second time for quite serious crimes.
As well as the places my drinking career took me to mentally, I was also in a bad way and, towards the end of my drinking, thoughts of suicide were a regular occurrence and on occasion I came close to carrying them out.
My life at the end of my drinking was a living hell and the only way out seemed to be death.
My drinking was at a stage that much more could have killed me.
Luckily, while in prison for the second time, I got into a treatment programme where I was introduced to AA and I do believe that this programme literally saved my life.
With the help of the AA meetings in Haverhill, I now have a much better life for which I am eternally grateful.
The first meeting I went to on my release from prison was on a Monday night and at the time was the only meeting in town.
I recently found out that this meeting is over 30 years old, although its day and location has changed in that time.
If it wasn't for this meeting in Haverhill, when I got out of prison I could well have gone back to drinking and I feel sure I wouldn't be here today, so for this I would like to thank all the people involved in keeping AA going in Haverhill over the 30-plus years ,who helped me and everyone else who have passed through its doors.
I owe AA a great debt for my life today and I can only try to repay that by trying to help others to get what I have got.
This letter is just my way of saying thank you.
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