Approximately 3 million Americans between the ages of twelve and twenty are alcoholics. Like many of them, Isaac started experimenting with alcohol when he was in his early teens. At first he drank only at parties; then he started drinking at home and at school. By the time he was sixteen, he could not go a day without drinking. Although Isaac believed that only adults became alcoholics, he was wrong. He was an alcoholic.

For the next few years alcohol was a key part of Isaac’s life.

I drank when I was alone, when I was out with my friends, whenever, wherever I could. At first I drank to forget my problems, to calm down when I was ready to explode, and because it was the thing to do. In the beginning, I chose to drink. Later I drank because I couldn’t stop. I didn...