subject: Alcohol Anonymous (aa): Helping Alcoholics Stay Sober [print this page] Over and excessive consumption of alcohol by a large number of people has become a common problem throughout the world. To keep alcoholics away from alcohol, the friends and families of alcoholics take them to different rehab clinics, medical centres and doctors so that they can overcome their alcohol addiction and consuming tendency through various alcoholic detox plans and programmes. Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is such a solution that solves all alcohol addiction problems in a friendly manner.
Started by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935 in Ohio, Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is an informal meeting organisation or society for recovering and recovered alcoholics. The primary purpose behind the formation of the organisation is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. The organisation suggests that alcoholics follow its programmes and abstain themselves from alcohol so that they can get easy and convenient recovery from alcoholism. To solve their common problems, they share personal experiences with each other. Disease theory of alcoholism and Twelve Step program of spiritual and character development are the best highlights of the organisation that belong to the abstinence from drinking alcohol and change the thinking of an alcoholic. Achieving and maintaining sobriety by alcoholics is the pivotal point of the programmes run by the AA.
Open, closed and standard are the three types of meetings that are conducted by the AA. Open meeting is meant for anyone whereas a closed meeting is especially designed for those who have a desire to stop drinking. All the meeting of the AA starts with socializing. A standard meeting begins with offering a short prayer, meditation, and period of silence. The oraganisation perceives alcoholism as a disease and does its best to challenge the belief of chronic, compulsive drinkers. The AA believes that drinkers can stay sober by willpower alone. It is considered that alcoholism is a disease showing the obsession of an alcoholic to drink alcohol followed by a compulsion to continue drinking that makes the drinking process a habit.
The organisation has released a book titled Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism a.k.a. The Big Book, showing the achievement of the soberity and avoiding consumption of alcohol by seeking guidance and strength through prayer and meditation from God. The book also states the personal experience of the members of the AA regarding their addiction and removal of alcohol consumption.
