Albert and Alcohol

Dear Albert Alco,

            I don’t know what to say.  You have been my friend for so long, I’ve know you since kindergarten, and now you decide to take up drinking.  I don’t know if you’re reading this email drunk, but I sure hope that you aren’t because there is some information in here that I really want to get through to you. 

            First of all I’d like to say that drinking in the first place was not a good idea.  You soon got addicted to alcohol and it was my entire fault.  I was the one to take you to that pub downtown and I was the one who insisted that you try a drink or two.  I apologize with all my heart, but that won’t help you one bit.  You don’t know how mortified I am and how sorry I feel and the regret that I experience and the sadness I go through when I remember that it was me who got you addicted.  Sorry isn’t enough, I know it and I plan to do more than say sorry to you. 

            I want to help you to try to break away from this addiction you have to alcohol.  I plan to give you some advice that you can try.  After all, that was the reason you emailed me in the first place.  First, you need to get motivated to break away from addiction.  Second, you need someone to keep you accountable when you drink.  Lastly, you will be free from your addiction.  Simple?  Not quite.

            So, I want to tell you about what happens to your body when you drink.  You’ve already had some problems with your health in the last couple of months.  If you don’t stop drinking soon, you will die.  I will try not to scare you but, I might.  Your brain cells die every time you drink alcohol.  Even if it is a small dosage, your brain cells still die. Once they are dead, they won’t replenish themselves.  They are gone forever.  You become dumber and dumber with each drink.   That might explain the drop in your grades after Quarter one.   Alcohol will affect the liver and kidneys as well.  Your liver will get swollen and inflamed. The liver will stop generating bile, which is a necessary for digestion. Also, it detoxifies poisons in your body and it manufactures proteins for your body.  The kidneys will become inflamed as well and their ability to filter the blood in your body will be reduced drastically.  Drinking alcohol also increases blood pressure and causes cholesterol and other fats to collect along the artery walls.  This increases your chances of stroke and cardiovascular disease.  Overall, the effects of alcohol are BAD.  I hope you are motivated enough to stop drinking now. 

            I can visit you once or twice a week and check on how you are doing.  Call me whenever you feel like you need a drink, I’ll try to persuade you out of it and I’ll go over to your house to help.  If you just can’t resist and take a drink, you could tell me.  We could then think of additional ways to prevent you from drinking alcohol.  First, you need to throw away all the cans of beer that you have hidden in your room.  Don’t buy them anymore so that your access to alcohol will be limited somewhat.  Make a chart and see how long you can go without alcohol and if you mess up, try to beat the number of days that you have resisted alcohol before. 

            The Bible says to get rid of any temptation that might get you into trouble or cause you to sin.  Flee from evil.  Next time you want a drink, remember to flee the thought.  Your thoughts might soon become your actions, so resist the temptation by asking God for help.  He is always there for you.  Noah did some pretty stupid things when he was drunk.  I don’t want you to do the same.  You are my friend and I am telling you all this because I care about your future. 

           If you actually succeed, then you will be free from your addiction!  You would be the winner and not alcohol.  I wish you good luck!  I will be with you on your journey and will try to help you with the best of my ability.  You can count on me and I can count on you to break free of your addiction.  J

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        Al C. Holic