Mr. Peters Case Summary

Addiction is a serious problem, with millions and millions of people worldwide suffering from some form of chemical dependency, whether it be drugs or alcohol. The person afflicted with addiction, however, is not the only one that suffers as their loved ones are forced to watch helplessly. Rick Peters, a loved son, father, brother, and friend, is one of the millions that are afflicted by the cruel hands of alcoholism. He didn’t dream of being an alcoholic when he grew up, but he wound up being under alcohol’s spell for more than a decade.Upon trying to reach the coveted sobriety for the first time, Mr. Peters had relapsed less than a year after going to treatment. Eventually, Mr. Peters found his sobriety twenty-six years ago. For Mr. Peters, …show more content…
Psychologists have also proven that most people addicted to anything has tried it before the age of eighteen. In Mr. Peters case, he was only fifteen when he tried his first sip of alcohol. His intent, however, was much less malicious than hoping to become an alcoholic, as many do not wish to become an addict, he only drank at first “Just to try it.” When asked if there were any signs in his childhood personality that could have pointed to being an alcoholic, he replied, “I always had a deviant behavior. I first tried tobacco at the age of eight. As a kid, I would jump on the train as it drove by and take it for a ride.” Mr. Peters believes that these signs of deviant behavior was a sign of an “alcoholic personality.” He says that addicts have a certain mentality that differs from the average non-addict. “It 's a feeling that there is something wrong.” He said when asked to describe it, “A feeling that you are different from everyone else.”According to Mr. Peters, people beginning down the road towards addiction, go into it with this mentality which is what causes people to drink, or use drugs, to