What if....

If your best friend in the world were killed in a drinking and driving incident, would it move you to give up drinking?
If so, do you believe you would give it up for good or eventually return? why or why not

I have already given up drinking. But if my best friend was killed in that way I doubt I would ever be able to even hear the word 'alcohol' again without feeling like I could've prevented it. He's a bit of a heavy drinker and I really hope he has the intelligence to know when he should and should not be driving. (He just got his automobile... so yea...)

I totally agree. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous substances out there.

I personally have never lost anyone in an accident like this, but I just wanted to hear input from others. I want to encourage all of you to be the stronger influence, and to try your best to be the alternative solution. Keep your friends as well as yourselves away from alcohol. It never seems real until something happens and gives you a reality check. I personally don't want to have to have a reality check.... find other ways to have fun!!!!

oh....no drugs either ;)

^ I'm sorry about that Nik.

I would probably say to myself..."See? That's another reason why I don't drink."

No. My friend did die in a drink related car accident. Another of my friends died after driving with little sleep and having drank hours before. Yet another of my mates was hit by a car because he ran into the road drunk. He died. I’ve had a friend die of a drug overdose as well. None of this stops me drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

I don’t drink and drive. I don’t get in cars with drink drivers or drug drivers.

I still drink because the situations my friends put themselves in to result in their deaths don’t specifically apply to me. I loved my friends, I still love them, but their deaths occurred through their own irresponsibility, except one of those I’ve mentioned.

I have put myself in situations in which I could have died. I’m no angel and I’ve made stupid mistakes too. Albeit I haven’t died as a result, but I have suffered and learnt from them.

I’ll still drink and I’m quite sure I will use drugs again. I’m not proud, but neither am I ashamed of that. It is simply a choice I’ve made. Making that choice means I fully accept the consequences of that choice and those who care about me accept my choice and are fully aware of what I do or am willing to do as well, as I am with them. If any of them couldn’t accept my choices (as they haven’t in the past) we’d talk it through and sort it out. I don’t want to hurt no one, but we all hurt people sometimes. I don’t hurt people intentionally and I make a conscious effort to avoid causing hurt.

At the end of the day I’ve known people die falling down stairs, in car crashes sober, having drowned and all sorts…but I don’t avoid cars, rivers or stair cases, which I could as they aren’t necessary things in my life. I could live without them.

You’ve got to get on with things. If anything watching my mates die has taught me to do all the things I want to do, to have a good time and to experiment with all manner of things…not simply alcohol or drugs, but travel, sport, careers…all of which can be very hazardous. We are all going to die. My mates may have died young, but I know given half the chance they’d still drink and do drugs and party.

Last November a really good mate of mine died. He was 27 years old. He had got married, had a child, he worked hard…he barely drank, he didn’t use drugs, he was moral and caring…and one day he woke up paralysed and died within a week of cancer. For every friend I’ve had died through something drink related or drug related I’ve had a mate die of cancer or disease which they couldn’t have helped.

Quiting things or living your life dominated by those who’ve died?

That isn’t living. We are all going to die anyway. You might as well live first.

If my friend did die because of that i am not going to give up drinking, cuz it would help me cope

My friend was hit by a drunken imbecile. Taught me what alcohol could do to you and an innocent child getting out of a car.

Maybe that's just why they produce these 'THINK' adverts. Watch them if you haven't.

Vix.... i'm disappointed to hear that :(

all accidents involving alcohol aren't neccessarily involving motor vehicles....
and i think that life is SOOOO much better lived sober. helping people in need is the absolute best feeling in the world. you really should try it. why not get a natural high instead of one brought on by drugs and alcohol???? especially when it has a much more positive effect on the world....

Honestly... I don't know... accidents happen if I were at fault for an accident that would be life altering... however I take the proper precautions when I go out drinking... but I don't know if I were to loose a friend to a drinking related accident... that wouldnt stop me from taking a drink at home... I don't know I really don't know

To Jessica:

Hey, sorry if my post has upset or affected you. I don’t mean my way of things to cause hurt.

I know not all alcohol related incidents or accidents are involving motor vehicles. I do live my life sober. I’m not drunk or intoxicated everyday, I’m sober a great deal of the time.

I do help people too. I’ve worked with children, with special needs people and children. I am currently up north, though I live now in south London. I came up for the summer and I’m well known to the homeless community around here. I do all I can to not simply give those I meet who are homeless or struggling a bit of change, but to talk with them, offer them support and friendship because I’ve been down and out and know how lonely homelessness can be. I went out clubbing last week and left one club at midnight. A homeless person I’ve become good friends with was begging outside the club. I spent the night, once I’d seen him there, sat with him chatting and having right laugh. I didn’t step foot in another pub or club all night. I had a better time offering some company to someone I happen to think a lot of.

I’ve been in the position of career for a family member with eating disorders and severe depression. I supported my elder brother through his mental illness and substance abuse. I am currently supporting another friend who has, in the last few years, experienced homelessness, suicide attempts and mental illness to apply to university and get her life back on track. I am meeting a friend today who after becoming pregnant and subsequently homeless spent five months with a new born baby, while she was only seventeen herself, homeless. She is doing brilliant and is a fantastic mum and I’m there for her all the way because she wants to help herself and I’ll do anything I can to give her a foot up. For her and her daughter.

I do help those I can. When i am in London I spend a lot of time travelling to meet various people who are of no fixed abode, I talk on the troubles of adolescence and being teenage and try to constructively help the youths in my community…but that doesn’t mean I cant enjoy a drink or I feel ashamed of admitting I sometimes use certain ‘illegal substances’.

If anything my past alcohol and drug use has helped me to understand the nature of drink and drugs and the impact they can have upon people, meaning I’ve been able to offer informed and better advice to those struggling with either. I am not trying to argue anyone should drink or use drugs. I am simply saying that, personally, I enjoy what I do…relating to drink and drugs and what I try to do to help both myself and others and a lot of what I have experienced (which in this society would be seen as socially unacceptable) has resulted in dispelling my own prejudices towards alcohol and drugs.

I believe a person can help others while still being able to sit at the end of the day with a beer and not feel they are doing anything wrong. I use alcohol and drugs recreationally. I am not an addict. My friends are well aware of what I do and respect that, as does the family I am in contact with.

Natural highs are fantastic…they just aren’t the only avenue. I like to experience what I can, not just chemically, but in every aspect.

I don't drink, but if I did... I don't know because I wouldn't drink anything except like... wine or champaign on special occasions so... I don't know.