My name is Chris and I"m an alcoholic and a drug addict. The definition we use of insanity in AA, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" would wrap up my whole life story but I"ll shed a little light on what got me to where I"m at today. I had my first introduction to AA when I was 14. I was put in a treatment center after being arrested on a drug related burglary. I spent 28 days in an inpatient program and stayed sober fo almost 6 months, after I relapsed I spent the next 8 years in a completly insane lifestyle. I wont get much into what or how muched I used I'll just say that I lived to use and used to live. I didn't care who or what tried to get in my way, I always managed to stay loaded. My using brought me to many horrible sights and circumstances but none were enough to get me to take a real look at my life. Well I guess thats why I continued to use, to mask the hurt and torment of what I had become. I turned to a life of crime, satanism, and a junkie living on the streets. After my second teatment center and second relapse my disease took me to the streets of Seattle. I lived on the streets for about 3 months. I panhandled money sold drugs and commited a lot of crime to support my addiction, the whole time thinking as long as I was loaded then my life was manageable. After I stayed in detox for a couple of short stays I decided that if I went back to treatment I would at least have a bed to sleep in for 90 days. So I came to Spokane and thought I was serious about staying clean, well I got serious about a woman and got booted from treatment. I moved in with my sponsor and began to work a half ass program. After I moved out on my own, started working 2 jobs and started substituting volunteer work at a Alano club for meetings I relapsed again. This time My disease landed me with a 43 month prison term. I'm now a 7 time convicted felon with 2 stikes under the 3 strikes your out law. None of this was enough to get me to go to the lenghts I needed to go, I continued to use until 3-8-97. I came to the understanding with myself and my higher power that if I didn't get sober before I got then I would never have a chance. I went through my 4th treatment and totally devoted my life to my recovery. Slowly things began to change in my daily prison life and I felt a freedom I had never felt before. Today I'm still in work release and have a little over 1 year clean. I go to 3 meetings a week, work with my sponsor and am very dedicated to a spiritual center. I feel like the obsession to use has been lifted and today I can live life on lifes terms. Today I have dreams and goals and I work on completing them one day at a time. Things are the best they have ever been and I owe it all to the fellowship of AA. This program gave me my last chance at life and I want to thank everyone for my sobriety.