Addiction experts helping kids
KIDS as young as 16 are turning to Alcoholics Anonymous in Haringey for help to battle the booze.
The plight of the young drinker has been revealed as the self-help group celebrates its 70th anniversary.
In Haringey, there are 22 meetings a week scattered around the borough - from Muswell Hill to Wood Green and north Tottenham.
And while alcohol addiction has historically taken hold of people from of all backgrounds and social status, it has emerged that those afflicted with a booze problem - and turning to AA - are getting younger and younger.
A spokesman for Alcoholics Anonymous, said: "Everyone has their own version of what rock bottom is and I would say that the drug culture has helped many people get there a lot quicker and at a younger age.
"The younger generation may also be more willing to ask for help."
One regular at Alcoholics Anonymous in Haringey is 31-year-old Charlotte, who like many started drinking too much in her teens and went on to develop a habit which could see her consume two-and-half litres of vodka a day.
Charlotte said: "I would say the youngest AA member I have seen is 16, and the oldest 87. People are coming to AA younger and younger. The awareness is there, and people in general are much more able to talk of their problems these days."
Charlotte said she turned to AA because she would have "done anything" to be free from her horrific habit.
She added: "My drinking became so horrendous that I couldn't hold down a job, my family didn't want to know me. I was at my rock bottom
I drank because I just wanted to change the way I felt. When I was happy I drank to be sad. When I was sad I drank to be happy. I just couldn't fit into myself and be comfortable
"With me, I went into these blackouts where I couldn't remember what I had done for long periods of time."
Charlotte described the move she made to seek help being driven by "the gift of desperation".
She said: "What that means is that you are so desperate that you will do anything to change and that you are ready to change.
"If someone had said to me you have to run around with your knickers on your head at an AA meeting, I would have done it.
"There is such a mixture of people at an AA meeting, from really high-level professionals to people straight off the street. But everyone had the same thing in common - an alcohol problem - and the honesty of everyone there is astounding. It blew my mind how open everyone was. There is sometimes a lot of tears."
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