A 12-Step Meeting
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) had inauspicious beginnings in 1935 inAkron, Ohio. A successful surgeon, Robert Smith, and a successfulstockbroker, Bill Wilson got together informally to talk about what theyfelt was a problem with alcohol. The group grew to over 100 members asWilson and Smith realized talking about their problems helped them staysober, and they shared their ideas with other. In 1939, the book"Alcoholics Anonymous" was published, and the word spread. One textstates, "From this limited beginning, AA has grown to be the single mostinfluential organization in history that specializes in helping alcoholicsrecover from alcoholism. There are over 1 million alcoholic members indifferent groups in the United States and other parts of the world"(Wilcox, 1998, p. 11). AA was the first group to recognize alcoholism andother related addictions were diseases, and treat them as such. The 12-step program, pioneered by AA, has become a model for treating otheraddictions, including drugs, smoking, and even overeating. The 12-stepprogram exists for a number of reasons, but primarily, it helps members ofthe program deal with their disease, while helping them become more self-
Significant Meeting Events There were several significant events at the AA meeting. AAserves a vital role in the lives of many alcoholics and their families, butAA is not simple a pill to be diagnosed in every situation. Two expertsnote, "They [the 12 steps] were painstakingly designed by fellow alcoholicsto help a person obtain sobriety and make the spiritual transformationnecessary to create a sober life worth living" (Davis & Jansen, 1998). They may find they seem to havelittle in common with other members, besides their common addiction, and sothey may feel out of place and not attend meetings, or continue with theprogram. I felt a bitlike an outsider, especially because I knew I was there to research, ratherthan truly participate in the event. a higher power is responsible foreverything), and so, the addicts actually lose power over their own livesby giving up their addiction and recovery to someone other than themselves. Asan observer, there was no pressure from the others in the room, but therecertainly seemed to be a feeling of expectancy. Thoughts and Feelings My thoughts and feelings were mixed about the meeting. Was I, a newcomer, goingto stand up and acknowledge my addiction' This was uncomfortable, and itpointed out how others who were attending for the first time might feelpressured or the need to accept their addiction before they were ready orwilling. After attending this meeting, I discovered that I would certainly recommendAA to patients who desired help for their alcohol addiction, but that theyfirst needed to request help, or at least bring up the problem. It may not be for everyindividual in every circumstance, but it is a vital organization to theworld, and to recovering addicts everywhere. Not all people recitedthe prayer, but it was clear it was important to many of the members. Another problem is that the meetings andthe program are run around the traditional white Anglo-Saxon Judeo-Christian mind set and belief system, which may not be appropriate foralcoholics from other faiths or races. " Several people told their personalstories, which also took great courage.
Common topics in this essay:
Alcoholics Anonymous,
Lord's Prayer,
Bud I'm,
Knowledge Incorporating,
Reasons Success,
Failure Obviously,
Davis Jansen,
Judeo- Christian,
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wilcox 1998,
wilcox 1998 11,
alcoholics recover,
treating addictions,
1998 11,
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meeting people,
davis jansen 1998,
recovering addicts,
people hope,
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Acceptance Essays
