Meredith, a single mother, well remembers the night three years ago when her son, Stephen, then 13, came home stupefying drunk. Smelling of beer and vomit, the boy spent what was left of the night in the bathroom and the next day in bed.
For the majority of parents, the appropriate response to an instance of teenage drinking is probably some frank discussion and increased vigilance. Whether mothers and fathers like it or not, the fact is that many young people are going to experiment with forbidden substances.

But Meredith knew that Stephen's case was different. Although for years she had denied the problem, Meredith had recently admitted to herself that she was an alcoholic and had begun a program of recovery. A drinker since college days, she regarded her past as a haze of empty bottles, remorse and unhappiness.

Confronted with Stephen's drinking, Meredith knew that she had to take action. Although relatively new to her 12-step program, she had learned enough to know that for herself and Stephen, healing would require something more than simply putting a cork in the bottle.

Just as she had found help in the form of a place to talk through feelings of loss, anger and sadness, Meredith knew that Stephen, who had also been victimized by her drinking, needed help and support.

She suggested a self-help program for teenage children of alcoholics, which, thankfully, Stephen was willing to give a try.
Three years later, mother and son are both well on the road to a better future.

Meredith has not begun to drink again. As for Stephen, who continues to attend his support group meetings each week, he recently made the life affirming decision to forgo alcohol or any other addictive substance. Says Meredith: "Every day, I thank God that the cycle has been broken."

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