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Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic

Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/1/2008 10:53:00 AM latifa
34 Posts latifa's Avatar
My ex was an alcoholic and was for years going to AA meetings for help and his dad is still an alcoholic, hes telling me that hes recovered and hes not an alcoholic anymore, but when I saw him the other night he smelt of alcohol - he was really violent before and had a real addiction to alcohol that lost him his flat and nearly ended up in prison. Were never be back together but he is still a really good friend, I want to believe him but everyone is telling me once an alcholic always one. should I believe him?
Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/12/2008 1:31:24 PM frankiedee
7 Posts frankiedee's Avatar
this is not true. there are soooo many alcoholics who quit and have stayed sober since. So dont believe the whole "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic". Its most definately not true. It just depends on your ex, and how much quitting means to him and how much he is willing to sacrafice to quit.
Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/12/2008 1:31:33 PM frankiedee
7 Posts frankiedee's Avatar
this is not true. there are soooo many alcoholics who quit and have stayed sober since. So dont believe the whole "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic". Its most definately not true. It just depends on your ex, and how much quitting means to him and how much he is willing to sacrafice to quit.
Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/13/2008 12:53:12 PM penelope<3
9 Posts penelope<3's Avatar
Yeah that's very true, it depends on how much they truly want it. I'm sorry to hear that you guys can't be together but it's good that you're still friends. It's a constant struggle to be with someone with an addiction, it can be really draining to others too.
Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/15/2008 1:47:53 PM jonnyjon
8 Posts jonnyjon's Avatar
I dont believe that this is true. I believe if the person really wants to quit they can. I quit crystal meth and I know I will never ever go back to it. saying once an alcoholic always an alcoholic is the same as saying once an addict always an addict and thats not true. Its just hard.
Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/16/2008 12:17:41 PM Quenlin
214 Posts Quenlin's Avatar
I think that if you've been addicted in the past, you'll become addicted again much more easily. I don't think an addiction can truly go away, you can get rid of the withdrawal and cravings, but not the addiction itself.
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Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
2/16/2008 5:13:40 PM latifa
34 Posts latifa's Avatar
well cheers for all the replies, I dont think he has wanted to change and basically it was go into rehab and alcoholics anonymous to show his support worker and what not that he is making an effort. We can never be together again after what he put me through, but I would like to see him make a go of his life, unfortunately I cant see it happening at the moment as he woke up steaming in someone's appartment the other day from a night out and all night drinking session.
RE: Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
3/17/2008 10:38:43 PM Intrill01
83 Posts Intrill01's Avatar
frankiedee said: this is not true. there are soooo many alcoholics who quit and have stayed sober since. So dont believe the whole "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic". Its most definately not true. It just depends on your ex, and how much quitting means to him and how much he is willing to sacrafice to quit.


Yes, actually it is very true. Once you are an alcoholic, that disease is with you for life. Someone can stay sober and never touch a drop again for the rest of their, but they are still alcoholics.
RE: Re: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
4/15/2008 2:08:21 PM hellotracy
16 Posts hellotracy's Avatar
I believe that once an alcoholic always an alcoholic is true to a degree. If an alcoholic quits and never touches alcohol again then he is not an alcoholic any longer. But i dont believe that once an alcoholic has recovered that they could drink even a sip of champaigne again. They wont be able to control it and they will keep drinking, that alcoholic will always stay an alcoholic.
RE: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
7/10/2008 9:39:35 AM not.enough
22 Posts not.enough's Avatar
This is like the saying once a cheat always a cheat and that isn't always true either. I think we need to give people the benefit of the doubt and try to support and love them. I think if you have evidence that he is still drinking than I think you should go with your gut feeling.
RE: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
8/5/2008 12:25:44 PM justdance
19 Posts justdance's Avatar
Alcoholism is a very hard disease to beat, but its not unbeatable and I trully believe that a person can completely recover and never drink again. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic???? so not true! and I know a few living proofs of it.
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Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic

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