Well for me this time , with emphasis on ' this time' I've been sober 5 years. I have been in and out of double a meetings my whole life , it is a good program and helps a lot of people and also destroys a lot of families and does a lot of damage to people, in my opinion. So I'm not much to going to meetings right now but there have been many years of my life some sober , some not but going to meetings. Good place to find and meet women. The problem for me like I said 5 years this time , also 4 years , 2 years , and 2 years , 6 months afew times , a day and half a day. My point is the problem is not about stopping. The problem is 'staying stopped'. So for me this last go around 5 years ago I had liver failure and needed a transplant and then the reality sank in that if I drink the drink will shut my body down . Thats not what I want. I drank to have fun and enjoy life but drinking turned into the antithesis of a good life for me. So I am sober this time really for my life. So hope that helps some..