Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

I am a little concerned about your behavior lately. I know that you have been drinking more often and I am just worried that this whole "drinking every once in awhile" turns into a "drinking all the time." I know that you have been having some trouble at home with your family and I think that's the reason you are drinking. I know of other ways to relieve your stress and anxiety, drinking doesn't help at all. Drinking can actually damage your brain and I know that you have big plans ahead of you and you don't want to ruin that. Alcohol actually can develop serious and persistent changes in the brain, and not good changes. It can also result in liver failure, which would not be good, I know that you don't want to have to delay going to college and moving forward in your life because of health issues. As it may seem that alcohol is a way out, exercising or even brisk walks can relieve your stress, we can do it together. When you feel stressed just call me up and we'll go for a bike ride, or a walk in the park. Or even just turning up the music in your room and dancing together can relieve your stress. Not only is this alcohol drinking affecting you, but it is affecting everyone around you. You are really negative around the ones you love and you show the real you. I know it is hard to feel accepted, and you feel failed in the last relationship you were in but, it's not the end of the world. You mean so much to me and I do not want you to ruin/waste part or more of your life being down al the time and drinking to get rid of the depression.

Drinking can cause changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality or even cause shortened attention span; and problems with coordination. If you drink too heavily and do not get help like I would like you to you could slip into a coma or even worse, you know I love you dearly and I don't want this for you. Alcohol can cause memory loss, and you know how you have big plans for the future. I know you don't want anything to affect your getting ahead in life. Alcohol can damage your liver extremely bad, and Alcohol-damaged liver cells allow excess amounts of these harmful byproducts to enter the brain, thus harming brain cells. I understand that being in the home that you are can be really stressful, I may not be going through the same thing but you know that I am completely here for you whenever you need me. I want better for you, I know that drinking may seem like a reliever for you, but it's not a healthy one. I can help you get past this, I know that it may seem harsh now, but Alcohol really is bad for you if you drink heavily or even drinking everyday. Let's find a healthy way getting out your anger, depression, or stress.

There are so many different ways we can help you out; a lot of them involve fun activities. I understand that they may sound silly