Alcohol Anonymous Support Group
Alcohol anonymous support group helps alcohol addicts to sufficiently recover and to become responsible members of society. Anonymous support groups run variety of programs that range from excess consumption of alcohol, loss of appetite, inadequate sex and increased addiction to gambling. Studies reveal that despite people facing problems as pertaining to drug abuse it is the alcohol anonymous group that receives many people compared to other groups in relation to drug abuse (Bedard, 2015). Addicts attending alcohol anonymous groups share with others how they are addicted to alcohol then await the response of members that can either be hostile or welcoming. For instance, different people have varied opinions as to whether someone addicted to alcohol can effectively identify himself or herself as an alcoholic member group. Feelings about alcohol anonymous group are often anchored on the assertions that alcoholics may be rejected and denied opportunity of attending group meetings. For that matter, when drug addicts attend sessions dedicated to drug addictions some members may feel that such drug addicts do not have long-term abstemiousness and thus not admissible in such groups. As a matter of fact, in many alcohol anonymous meeting, members with long –term sobriety are often accommodated. Second, perceptions are different because some alcoholics may balk when other members identify themselves as a drug addict. For that matter, beliefs are that those who never abused other substances apart from alcohol and are attending groups meetings are considered outsiders and do not meet the fundamental functions of alcohol anonymous group. Further, other group members may not be accommodative to addicts whose discussions are revolving on situations that never affected people who only abused alcohol.
Nonetheless, alcohol anonymous is recommended for drug and alcohol addicts because in such forums, members help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs. These meetings ensure that people are free and open to discuss issues surrounding excess drinking and enlighten each other on the dangers and problems associated with drinking. Furthermore, such forums incorporate reading motivational books, sharing stories and celebrating the role that each person plays in the society. For that matter, members are at liberty to correct all defects that bedevil some members in society as it targets more problems than drinking alcohol. To a greater extent, alcohol anonymous groups help solve difficult problems without professional help because it has been revealed that no therapists, psychologists or physicians attend such forums unless they also have drinking problems (Ralph, 2017). An alcohol anonymous group facilitates transition of many alcoholics to sobriety more than professional therapies. The approach taken by such groups are favorable than therapies because it allows victims to define their own paths. The approach taken by such groups is adaptable since it revolves around building reinforcements and modeling actions aimed at helping members reduce or stop alcohol drinking. This can be achieved through strategies such as goal setting, conducting critical analysis on how to stop drinking and to effectively cope with the problem. The setting for group meetings are varied and can take place in treatment locations, community outreach centers, schools and primary healthcare facilities thus able to reach many alcoholic as possible. Notwithstanding, the approach is quite simple because it begins with an alcoholic’s admission to inability to control drinking then shows readiness to review weaknesses and to show the willingness to face the problem head on.
References
Bedard Jean-Paul. (2015). So What Really Happens in an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting? Huff
Post. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanpaul-bedard/so-what-really-happens-in_b_6471862.html. Accessed November 14, 2017.
Ralph Heibutzki. (2017). What Are the Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous? Live Strong.
[ONLINE] Available at: https://www.livestrong.com/article/88097-benefits-aa/. Accessed November 14, 2017.