KANNUR: He handed over the keys along with his car to the beggar he saw on the roadside for safekeeping. He wandered without knowing to whom it was handed over or where it was handed over. The beggar guarded the car for days, believing that the owner would return. The 51-year-old executive was sharing his drunken blunders and how he got his life back together. He was supported by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Though a native of Thiruvananthapuram, his permanent residence is in Kannur. Five years ago, he was traveling from Thrissur to Kannur in his own Swift car. Liquor was in stock in the car itself. After drinking heavily, he was finally unable to drive. When he stopped the car and came out, he saw a Tamil beggar. He handed over the key and five hundred rupees to him. As soon as he boarded the train, he fainted and fell asleep. When he woke up, the train had reached Udupi and he couldn't remember where the car was.

The railway station from Thrissur to Kannur and its surroundings were searched and but the car could not be found. On the third day, when he got off the bus at Koilandi, he saw his car on the side of the road and the beggar nearby. That's when he remembered the incident. He got the beggar food and rewarded him as well. That was the first time he felt the need to give up alcohol. But how?

Another bus ride... An advertisement on the side of the bus. For recovery from alcoholism, contact Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Association . When he finally reached there after searching for it, he saw many people who had given up alcohol and got their lives back. Today, he is one of them who is trying to save alcoholics.

Beginning in America

The global association of Alcoholics seeking recovery was founded in the United States in 1935. The procedure is done without charging a single rupee. The activities of the latter are coordinated by those who have recovered from addiction. The collective includes people from laborers to doctors.

Life experience is medicine

The important thing is to share the life experience in the meeting which is held once a week. The first condition is to avoid drinking alcohol for a day. Constant contact with other members who have subsequently recovered from alcoholism is a step. No medicines will be given. It is through sharing experiences and communication that one gets rid of alcoholism here.

24 years, 500 groups

The group started operations in Kerala 24 years ago. Now there are about five hundred groups. For Kannur, the meeting is held at Kannur St. Michael's School at 3.30 pm on Sundays.

Help for family too

There is also an Al-Anon community for family members and friends who have been devastated by a person's alcoholism. Associations are there in Kozhikode and Ernakulam to solve the problems of children in such families.

Phone: 9074338896, 9447961166, 9447961177.