Narconon Riverbend Retreat Louisiana Celebrates Alcohol Awareness Month Spotlighting A Graduate

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Denham Springs, LA - Narconon Riverbend Retreat Louisiana actively supports the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and National Alcohol Awareness Month.  In keeping with this year’s theme, “Healthy Choices, Healthy Communities:  Prevent Underage Drinking”, Narconon Riverbend is spotlighting a graduate of the Narconon program who overcame alcoholism.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that while 22 percent of teenage drinkers get alcohol from people who are unrelated to them and are under 21, more than half of teenage drinkers obtain alcohol from someone over the age of 21.  Twenty-six percent of those adults are parents or family members.  The following story illustrates how a teenager goes out of control when consuming alcohol.

“I started drinking when I was 14 years old.  I got my first DWI when I was 16 years old.  By the time I arrived at Narconon, I was facing my third DWI. I had lost my family, my job, any ability to get and keep a job, my driver’s license and any desire I had to go on,” says Daniel S., a graduate of the Narconon program at Riverbend Louisiana.

“… I had done several 12 Step programs, but nothing like this.  I struggled with wanting to do things my way and thinking I had it figured out.  I just needed to get through this and then the court would let me get my life back together and not send me to prison.”

“It didn’t take too long for me to realize it just wasn’t going to work like that.  I really had to look at things in my life that I didn’t want to look at.  My mother was an alcoholic and I had always struggled with her wanting me to change, but not recognizing her own problems.

“I realized it just came down to me taking care of my problems and my life.  I couldn’t change my mom, but I could change myself.  I did that and I’ve never been happier. I got my whole life back by going to Narconon.  It’s been 6 months since I graduated and I feel like I am me again!  It’s tough getting things right after the mess that I made, but I know I never would have had a chance if I hadn’t gone to Narconon.”  Daniel.

The NCADD reports that young people who tasted alcohol before they were 15 have a 5 times greater risk to have alcohol dependence or abuse as compared to people who first use alcohol at age 21 or older.

“Daniel’s life is a perfect example of how alcoholism can derail an entire family.  We believe even the worst of circumstances can be addressed and we tackle alcoholism and drug addiction head on.  Alcoholism doesn’t have to be passed on from one family member to the next,” says Cathy Steiner, Executive Director Narconon Riverbend Retreat.  “We commend Daniel for his commitment to changing his life.”  

About Narconon Riverbend Retreat Louisiana

Narconon Riverbend Retreat Louisiana is located in Denham Springs.  It is a non-profit alcohol and drug rehabilitation center licensed by the State of Louisiana. The Narconon drug rehabilitation and education program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez and uses the drug-free rehabilitation and social education methodology based on research developed by American author and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard. They are dedicated to eliminating alcohol and addiction through drug prevention education and rehabilitation. If you know someone struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse and would like more information visit http://www.drugabusesolution.com or call 877-340-3602. Any questions you have in the matter will be addressed in confidence.