Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
A friend of mine is going to outpatient treatment because he failed a pee test. He had smoked a little pot the day before, a stupid decision he readily admits. He is in good physical health, never misses work, and has no intention of giving up his 6-pack while watching football on tv -- nor do I think he should have to. Today he came over to get some help with his "homework" for treatment. It was a three-page question-and-answer worksheet on step one of the AA program. I am so annoyed!
AA is a free, anonymous, and voluntary program for people who WANT to get sober, and the idea that these treatment centers are charging insurance companies tons of money to shove it down people's throats just pisses me off. It's one thing to tell people they have to go to meetings as a supplement to whatever treatment plan they're offering; it's something entirely different to hijack the whole AA program and force people to participate. I see this as a total violation of our principles! Who is allowing this? Is it time for AA as whole to speak up and tell these "treatment centers" to develop their own damn programs, and start honoring our traditions?
AA does work for many, many people, but you do have to want it for yourself. This guy is going to go down as a statistical failure because someone ELSE says he needs help that he, A) doesn't want, and B) probably doesn't really need. Would he even be there if his insurance wouldn't pay for it? Doubt it.
I could go on and on with more rant, but you get the picture. Any thoughts?
AA is a free, anonymous, and voluntary program for people who WANT to get sober, and the idea that these treatment centers are charging insurance companies tons of money to shove it down people's throats just pisses me off. It's one thing to tell people they have to go to meetings as a supplement to whatever treatment plan they're offering; it's something entirely different to hijack the whole AA program and force people to participate. I see this as a total violation of our principles! Who is allowing this? Is it time for AA as whole to speak up and tell these "treatment centers" to develop their own damn programs, and start honoring our traditions?
AA does work for many, many people, but you do have to want it for yourself. This guy is going to go down as a statistical failure because someone ELSE says he needs help that he, A) doesn't want, and B) probably doesn't really need. Would he even be there if his insurance wouldn't pay for it? Doubt it.
I could go on and on with more rant, but you get the picture. Any thoughts?
It has been that way for many many many moons. And many believe its entirely Ok because AA in general thought Inclusion with our literature is Ok as long as Its not called AA . There are many many twelve step fellowships who also use much of what Bill W used from the Big Book including the steps as stepping stones just like we in AA do! And many aa people have started Big Book groups that use
AA's literature as a Stepping stone and leading those who belong to these group individually to exclaim that this and only this is the correct way to do the steps . The literature has, lets say, been bastardized as if its the holy grail .
I think human being's need something really secure to hang onto in The recovery movement , churches and the Health industry. And with that comes profiteers all around the board. I do hear you though and I for one am Glad your now being given the chance to see all of this in more rounded way! I really felt many years ago the same way but have found over time its a lot more clear in my head about the realities how religious , recovery and political agenda can either spoil a thing or bring it to natural maturation , given the complexities of how Humans either suffer are only willing to believe what they have adopted to believe. Willfulness can and is not always what it seems I've noticed as I Continue each day to wake up sober and pay attention to as the world turns:) Here's some Historical facts that might interest you:)
From the Foreword by William L. White:
Not everyone will agree with the ideas and approaches set forth here, but for the past decade, individuals and families have used LifeRing Secular Recovery as an effective framework to initiate and maintain long-term recovery from life-impairing addictions. Those recoveries are cause for celebration, and this book details how they did it. Those seeking a solution to alcohol and other drug problems and professionals assisting people with such problems will find great value in these pages.
William L. White, Author,
Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America
Hey and if life was boring Who could stand it lol!
Billy
Step One is well summarized on pg 44 of our Basic Text.
"In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. (Alcoholics Anonymous is for chronic alcoholics)
If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, (Can't manage your most sincere decision to not start drinking) - the un-manage-ability insidious insanity - mentally powerless
or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, (Can't drink without getting drunk) - the allergy the craving - physically powerless
If you answered "No" to those two questions, you are a chronic alcoholic - an alcoholic of the hopeless variety. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer."
Question: If a spiritual experience is my only hope, how many meetings must I attend to survive alcoholism?
We recover by the Steps we take, not the meetings we make!
Step Two is the hope this Program will work for me as I see it working for other chronic alcoholics. I believe (hope) this thing will work for me too.
Step Three is simply a decision to learn to apply the clear-cut directions for recovery in our daily life. We are to begin this process at once following our decision.
If we carefully follow the directions to pg 88, we will have recovered and been given the power to help others. If we don't, the odds are very great we will drink again.
Contrary to the opinion of some, we do not have a spiritual awakening/experience as the result of making this decision. We must follow the directions from pg 64 thru pg 88.
Having had a spiritual awakening/experience as the result of these Steps. We must take the action to be the beneficiary of the Promises.
We recover by the Steps we take, not the meetings we make
The "inverted pyramid" structure, the self supporting by our own contributions and adherence to age old spiritual principles are safe guards that have carried AA through all changes in society over the last 70 odd years. That's good enough for me,
I may have strong opinions on this and that but AA even protects me from myself!
If I was new looking for away out of a hopeless situation like many do and come here and read a cut and paste that's in the book and especially the comment " AA even protects me from myself! " I would be out of here in a New York minute.
I see lots of guys getting their slip of paper signed at meetings as proof of attendance for their sober transition homes or other similar places. Are they there because they have to, or because they want to be there? Again, they only know the answer. And would they be honest? Many of these guys are addicts only. So then what? Again, I know lots of guys who went and still go to AA because they feel NA or CA isn't cutting it for them, that there is more long term sobriety in AA. Again, if they identify as an alcoholic and don't share about needles and pipes, then they can stay. Or can they?
These are debates and discussion even me at only a short time of recovery in the rooms have heard endlessly, and will continue to do so. Traditions are so very important, and people do toy with them, but in the end, really, for me, is that I reach out to the man who wants help, who needs it, who is willing to do what it takes. As for the others - I can't really comment or do much. If they are forced there, then that's their issue. If they are eroding or disturbing a group in any way, then a group conscious can decide how to move ahead.
I can't say in my experience that treatment centers are a rip off because the one I went to saved my butt. It was 12-step based and very much AA entrenched. It introduced me to the program and everything we did was around the program. If it weren't for treatment, I wouldn't have connected with AA and I would probably be dead. So it's a blanket statement to vilify and demonize all treatment centers. Many do fine work and do their best. Some are more successful than others and some are more dedicated to 12-step than others.
Perhaps I lack vision, but I just focus on the guy beside me who is shaking and trembling and wants to heal. That is where AA is most crucial and life saving. If someone is there to take the heat off and just can't wait to leave, get that paper signed and go home and get hammered, there is nothing I can do about it. But if you want help...then let's go for coffee.