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I knew when I was going to have [my daughter], I could plan drinking around those times.

Chris Swift (US Army, 1999-2018) explains how he started to plan his life around alcohol, making plans to drink when he wasn't taking care of his daughter.

Transcript

I left active duty

December 3rd, 2011.

My daughter was born

December 6th.

Her mom and I were together

for two months

when I got home,and I just

I didn't want to be there

because I wanted to be able

to go out and drink, and

I had to be a father

and that.

So when we broke up,

any time I made my schedule,

I knew when

I was having my daughter,

I knew when I had

to be at school,

I knew when I had to be at work,

and then the rest,

I could always plan

my drinking after I had that,

you know,

after I had my daughter.

And when I knew

when I was

going to have her, I could plan

drinking around those times.

Like, that's how my schedule,

that's how my mentality was that

alcohol was very high

on my priority list. You know,

when I didn't have my daughter,

I was drinking like that was-

That wasn't even a question.

That was just-

That was just a known fact.

That's what was going to happen.

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