Audie M. on Dual Addiction, Crack Cocaine, and 36 Years of Sobriety

About This Speaker Tape

Audie M. shares his journey of 36 years of sobriety, beginning with his entry into treatment on April 5, 1989. He describes a childhood that seemed normal on the surface but was rooted in dysfunction due to his father's alcoholism. This early environment, combined with feelings of low self-esteem and pressure to measure up to successful peers, eventually led him to substance use starting in college.

His addiction accelerated rapidly when he began using crack cocaine in his mid-twenties, which he describes as a far more aggressive downward spiral than alcohol alone. He recounts the cunning nature of the disease, including the financial and professional wreckage that occurred while he was working for an engineering firm, and the eventual moment of clarity that led him to a two-week treatment program.

Audie emphasizes the importance of the fellowship and the transition from Narcotics Anonymous to Alcoholics Anonymous, noting that listening for similarities rather than differences was key to his recovery. He discusses navigating profound grief after the death of his step-daughter and the humility required to handle a difficult divorce. He concludes by stressing that long-term sobriety requires consistent attendance at meetings and a commitment to helping others.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction by Howard L. and Audie M. celebrating 36 years of sobriety
• 10:50 Audie describes the dysfunction of his childhood and his father's alcoholism
• 25:14 Discussion on the difference between religion and spirituality and the role of the church
• 34:10 The introduction to crack cocaine and the acceleration of the addiction
• 47:30 Workplace wreckage at an engineering firm and the decision to enter treatment
• 55:15 Early recovery in NA and the importance of the friendship with Butch
• 1:02:10 Transitioning from NA to AA and learning to look for similarities
• 1:15:40 Navigating the death of a child and the loss of a marriage while staying sober