Just curious, I’m 22 years old. Am I one of the youngest people here? I don’t mean this in an offensive way, but I notice everyone here seems to be like 30+ years old. So like I don’t really relate to certain things people talk about here, like the parts where people talk about stuff like “my husband this” “my wife that” “my kids this” “my wife gave birth today” “I am having a midlife crisis” etc. I don’t mind that most people here seem to be older than me, I tend to learn the best life advice from people who are older than me.
Did I realize I have addiction problems earlier than most people or something? I realized I had a coke problem pretty early on, like within about 2-4 weeks of it starting to happen but I didn’t have the tools to deal with it for a long while until now.
I stopped partying and doing drugs at 22 years old because I tend to really gravitate to my drug of choice, like to the point where cocaine would become the only thing I was interested in talking about. I really hated my obsession over cocaine and I was really scared of losing everything I care about.
Anyway, I’m glad to be here
Btw, this is kinda random but to anyone around my age: never try cocaine if you haven’t already. I realize that cocaine has become more popular than it was even in the 70s and 80s I feel like. I see it at every party I would go to here in Canada. Shit ain’t worth it!
I think there are quite a range of people here. I am 43, only just coming to terms with having ticked over from 42.
I would say I did realise in my 20s that I had an unhealthy relationship with wine, but never enough to join AA. There weren’t really options like this back then as our phones didn’t have the internet or apps in the same way, and you didn’t have a community in your pocket like here.
You have definitely done well to realise it now though. You will have your whole life ahead of you and this part will be a distant memory by the time you are my age!
Oh true that makes sense, thanks I see what you mean, without the internet I probably wouldn’t have discovered all these sobriety groups and whatnot for a long ass while tbh. I’m really thankful that modern technology exists
Like for example my grandfather was a big alcoholic and nicotine addict for many years, but I feel like if we had the technology we have now but back then he would’ve been able to get sober much earlier on in life.
I’m 35 years old. I was about 14 or 15 yrs old when I started drinking. I’ve tried weed and cocaine early on, but it wasn’t for me. I stuck to the alcoholism.
I feel you, I’m the opposite: weed and cocaine was my shit, but I never liked alcohol that much for some reason. Everyone is different in what they crave though. I guess it all depends on the brain’s chemistry
I’m 47. I always knew I would have a strained relationship with booze from a very young age, pre-teen. My dad was an alcoholic. I tried hard not to become one, I barely drank a drop until my mid 30s.
I am 27, but I married young and had kids young. So I feel like Identify with older people around here as well as the younger people. Addiction knows not our age though. I became addicted to pornography probably around the 3rd grade. I realized I was addicted in high school and tried to stop in sophomore year of high school. Since then it has been a battle. I haven’t really experienced real sobriety until about a year and a half ago and even though I have fallen back into my addiction. I just got to keep going one day at a time.
Im 39… turning 40 this year. I actually applaud u and admire u for seeking help earlier on in life. I knew i was an addict at age 16 and i did actually try numerous times to get help thru rehabs, one on one and group counselling etc but it was only until 2 years ago that it finally clicked. TS was a huge support and played a HUGE role in getting me clean. I really wish that I had taken my recovery more seriously back then bcuz i certainly did a lot of damage by continuing down a dark path. I can understand tho how you feel u may not relate in some senses to others on here but we do all have a common bond (we are all trying to get better and beat our addictions). Im glad ur here
Thanks homie, I appreciate it. Im glad you’re here as well What counts is that you’re putting in the effort now! Some people never end up putting in the effort to be sober and just end up dead because of their addiction I realize. Im glad you’re here, you’ve been helping me a lot with my addiction.
As my name suggests, I wanted to get sober before I hit 50 years old. I joined this app when I was 49, and I’m happy to say that most of my 50s have been sober.
I did go back out, and learned a few things: 1) I can’t drink. Full stop. It will take me down. 2) I need more than sobriety, I needed recovery. I added the Recovery Dharma program to being on this app and haven’t looked back, for, oh, almost 21 months now.
But you know what? I learn from everyone, regardless of their age, especially if I am open to it! Others on this app, people in my meetings - our years don’t always equate to knowledge and wisdom. Experience and the willingness to learn from it, and sharing those experiences and learnings benefit us all, I think.
Thanks for the advice homie I really appreciate it, and yeah that’s true sometimes I learn good life advice from people younger than me or same age as me, but definitely I still feel like some of the better advice I’ve gotten is from people around your age
Awe thanks! Im always glad i can help! Youve helped me also!! And ur absolutely right. I do sometimes beat myself up over how much time i wasted on drugs. But i am trying to repair the damage i caused financially and with my relationships etc. Its never too late to make a positive change
You are so welcome. And thank you too for being here!
I realize I didn’t even answer your original question… . I’ll be 54 years old this summer! And two years sober! That calls for two scoops of ice cream in my books!
I’m 45 now. Started drinking when I was around 13. By the time I was in my 20’s I knew I had a problem, but I could always kinda keep it somewhat under control by moderating, or only beer, only weekends that kinda thing. Once it progresses though, the last 10 years have been a fuckin shit show. My son’s 26, so your age. I congratulate you young people who realize you have a problem early and do something about it.
I’m 43, I never really drank in my teens or twenties. It wasn’t until my late 30’s as my marriage was ending. I’ve always had a low tolerance, I found that one quick can could get my cheeks red and me going. I would stop at the gas station in my neighborhood and as I pulled onto my small block pound it back, park the car hide the can in the recycling bin and go in buzzed for the night. Sobriety has been hard, I stop then feel I can go back, but I can’t, it’s all or none. I choose none every day! I’m grateful for this app and my group!
31 here! Happy to quit cigarettes at 28 and drinking at 31. There’s certainly alot more information and technology these days to help people make better informed decisions at younger ages.
I’m 42, alcohol and drugs since 14, well done realising you have a problem and addressing it now, it’s only gets deeper and darker the further into addiction you go, well done Eric
I really appreciate it, and yeah that’s true sometimes I learn good life advice from people younger than me or same age as me, but definitely I still feel like some of the better advice I’ve gotten is from people around your age 
. I’ll be 54 years old this summer! And two years sober! That calls for two scoops of ice cream in my books! 
