What's Your Story? Submitted Stories

I Stole a Life

My name is Eric. I am a 46 year old attorney from Pennsylvania. My entire adult life has been dedicated to my perception of pursuing a successful life--i.e., academic achievement, professional accomplishments and the accumulation of wealth and material goods. I graduated magna cum laude in 1984 from Temple Law School where I also served on the Law Review. I then spent 18 years as a Partner at a major Philadelphia Law Firm, specializing in civil trial practice. I tried over 64 cases to verdict and lost only four trials in my career.

In 1999, I started representing professional athletes as a sports agent and within several years represented 8 players on active rosters in the NFL. I then started my own law firm and and sports management company and found even greater professional and financial success. There was nothing I could not accomplish; I had it all, or so I thought.

My world came crashing to an end on 11.23.05, the day on which I killed a 22 year old West Point Cadet named Andrew.* Andrew had just graduated from the Academy and was as fine a young man as you could hope to meet. He was a wrestling star in high school and also wrestled at Army. Four hundred cadets attended Andrews's funeral. Needless to say, I was drinking the night I took Andrew's life.

Alcoholism is an insidious disease. Despite my education, I had no idea that someone could be a functional alcoholic. Although I drank almost every weekday, it never occurred to me that I might be an alcoholic. Alcoholics do not achieve the types of things I had accomplished. I had a clearly defined notion of what constituted an alcoholic and I did not fit in that framework.

Let me tell you about my life now. I have been charged with various serious crimes as a result of the accident that claimed Anthony's life. I have had to close my law firm. I have five children and my wife has had to re-enter the work force after a considerable absence to keep us afloat (despite making a lot of money, I was also very accomplished at spending it). I am currently out on bail, but have decided to revoke bail so that I can start serving my time. I am writing this story four days before entering prison. Once there, I expect to be in prison for three to four years. The strain on my wife and children--who are also innocent victims--is unbearable. Finally, and worst of all, is the guilt and remorse that suffocates me every single day. I think of Andrew constantly. I do not sleep and when I do, I often have horrific nightmares.

There is hope, however. I have entered the rooms of A.A. and found salvation. I have not had a drink since the accident and with the help of the fraternity and my higher power, I intend to stay sober one day at a time. Once in prison, I hope to help as many prisoners as I can with their drinking and drugging problems. I have discovered that sharing my story tends to have a profound impact on others. I have dedicated my life to getting my message out; anything less would be a dishonor to Andrew's memory.

Although I believe that I belong in prison so as to be held accountable for the consequences of my addiction, I also believe that our society needs to adopt an entirely new approach to alcohol and drug addiction; one that focuses on treatment as opposed to retribution and punishment. This is a time that demands understanding and compassion; this is the only way that fine young men like Brent and Andrew will be spared in the future.

*Andrew's name has been changed.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Awareness does exercises limited editorial control over the information you may find on FRONTLINE STORIES web pages. Opinions expressed on FRONTLINE STORIES web pages do not necessarily represent the official views of The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Awareness.

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The disease of alcohol and drug dependency, and it is a disease, is suffered in silence. Those who have it or have a special person close to them suffering from it, hide it from the world due to embarrassment, shame, and humiliation, and endured it in isolation and silence. This, despite the fact that this disease affects almost every family in America in some way from family members, loved ones, friends, co-workers and even as a taxpayer carrying the enormous social costs of this disease.

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