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Alcoholics Anonymous is a prestigious fellowship that attempts to control the addiction problem that exists worldwide. It is a non-profit organization that strives to remove alcoholism and addiction from the face of the earth.
AA or Alcoholics Anonymous identifies addiction as a disease. So, they have a program created, which is aided by the AA fellowship, to help and support people with an addiction to maintain abstinence.
The members of Alcoholics Anonymous are all previous or current addicts of alcoholism. Most of the senior members in the group have recovered from alcoholism. They work against alcohol dependence through support groups.
Alcoholics Anonymous seeks sobriety, which can be sought through prayer and meditation. They connect with alcoholic people wherever possible and bring them back to life. Rather than being an alcohol addiction treatment program, the AA group uses twelve step programs, guiding principles, moral inventory, etc., to steer clear of drug and alcohol abuse.
12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Walk Away from Addiction, Substance Use Disorder in Twelve Steps
It is possible to walk away from alcoholism with the proper support. Alcoholics Anonymous carry this message to alcoholics worldwide. AA attempts to use prayer and meditation to improve the status of alcohol use disorder patients. They focus on the spiritual awakening of AA members and to be at a higher power to stay away from alcohol and drug addiction.
To know more about the addiction recovery services available at AA to help individuals, it is essential to understand how addiction to alcohol affects the health conditions of the patients.
Addiction
Addiction, according to the definition of American Society of Addiction Medicine, is a health condition in which the patient constantly seeks a consumable object or a process to feel relaxed. Addiction is harmful in the sense that people with an addiction cannot stop using the addictive agent even if they feel like it. Even if the addictive agent is harmful to the user’s health, a person with an addiction cannot stop using it.
Addiction is widely considered harmful as it can cause severe issues to the user’s health. The inability to stop using something can significantly impact the physical and psychological aspects of one’s life. The unhealthy requirement of an external product can also affect the quality of one’s life.
As per the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is indeed a brain disorder. Society considers it a brain disorder because a person with an addiction will not be functioning at their own will but on an uncontrollable addiction mechanism.
There are two different types of addiction. They are as follows.
- Substance Addictions
- Non-Substance Addictions
Substance Addiction: Examples
- Cannabis
- Alcohol
- Hallucinogens
- Caffeine
- Inhalants like paint thinners
- Sedatives like Benzodiazepines
- Opioids
- Nicotine
- Stimulants
Non-Substance Addictions: Examples
- Eating
- Dieting
- Gambling
- Exercising
- Shopping
- Gaming
- Browsing
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is one of the most common chronic substance addictions. Alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental health are directly related. Alcoholism can often lead the user to severe consequences like deteriorated health.
Most alcoholics end up taking substance abuse treatment services to get out of the issues. There are millions worldwide who are still suffering from alcoholism despite availing of substance abuse recovery services.
Alcohol addiction gradually develops severe withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult for the patient to stop its use even with proper mental health services administration. In America alone, there are thousands of alcohol abuse and mental health services to help alcoholics get back at their lives.
Alcohol Use Addiction Interventions
Across the globe, many non-profit organizations, governments, etc., are engaged in the pursuit of removing addiction from society. These organizations create programs and lay down principles to counter alcohol addiction. It is advisable to practice these principles to get timely recovery from substance use and mental health dilemmas.
Some of the leading addiction interventions are as follows.
- American Addiction Centers
- Alcoholics Anonymous
American Addiction Centers
American Addiction Centers (AAC) provides addiction relief services all across America. They primarily focus on the mental health implications of alcohol and illicit drug use. The organization believes in evidence-based treatment procedures and, thus, has already created outstanding results in the addiction recovery realm.
American Addiction Centers were founded in 2007 and have created a success rate better than the national average in helping people recover from severe addiction. At American Addiction Centers, patients get prompt care for alcohol and other drug addictions.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Alcoholics Anonymous is indeed one of the oldest support groups for the prevention of alcohol addiction. All the members of Alcoholics Anonymous are recovered and recovering alcoholics. Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith together founded AA in 1935.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are both similar groups that gained popularity for their genuine attempts at countering alcohol and substance abuse. AA is famous for its 12-step approach to preventing alcoholism.
The twelve-step programs and 12-step meetings are some of the most prestigious initiatives of Alcoholics Anonymous. The twelve step facilitation program from AA is a specially designed program of recovery that is realized through a twelve step facilitation therapy.
The various aspects of the 12-step program have made direct amends in the lives and futures of millions of people with an addiction. The program has the power to carry the patients in recovery on a more positive path. AA has constantly tried to carry this message of positivity around patients in recovery.
AA 12 Step Program: Twelve Steps or Twelve Traditions to Life
The twelve steps of the AA 12-step program are all about the past experiences of recovered addicts. Each step describes the battle and experience that the recovered patient went through. Each of the steps is expected to connect with an alcoholic addict and help them recover in a positive environment.
12-Step Program: The 12 Traditions or 12-Steps of AA In Detail
- Admitting that alcohol has made us powerless and made our life unmanageable.
- Believing that a higher power can restore the lost charm of our life.
- Taking a conscious decision to turn our life in a Godly way.
- Search and create a moral inventory for ourselves.
- Admitting past wrongdoings to God and another human being.
- Be willing to let God change our character’s shortcomings.
- Requesting God to intervene and help with your character flaws.
- List people we have harmed and be willing to seek forgiveness.
- Making direct amends with people we have hurt in the past.
- Work on personal values and admit whenever any wrongs are done.
- Trying prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a higher power.
- Awaiting a spiritual awakening by employing all the other 11 principles in all our affairs.
Final Word
Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step facilitation is the best way for a person with an addiction to seek redemption in life. AA and other 12-step interventions can help people with addiction lead a life devoid of alcohol or substance abuse. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever for struggling addicts to seek solace.
FAQs
The changes and variations in the brain chemistry of an individual cause addiction. Repeated use of something can majorly impact an individual's brain chemistry. Addictive substances usually affect the various activities of the brain. So, after a point, the addictive substance becomes an inevitability for the brain to function. This condition is termed addiction.
The factors that can usually lead to addiction are brain chemistry, environmental pressures, mental health conditions, genetics, etc. Peer pressure is one of the primary reasons that can lead to addiction.
Some of the most popular options to treat addiction are medication, rehabilitation, therapy, support groups, etc. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., help people with addiction get timely help from addiction.
