This is a summary of how the program of AA works. Please note that the AA program and the AA fellowship are two different things. AA meetings are a fellowship of people. A combination of those "on the program of AA" who share their experience of applying it to their lives to those still suffering alcoholics seeking help. The program of AA is the 12 step practical program of action found within the first 164 pages of the book Alcoholics Anonymous. The fellowship of AA was originally a forum for sharing, teaching and discussion of the program. The fellowship ideally carries the message of recovery through practice, discussion and teaching of the program - members sharing their experience, strength and hope of the program with other members. While attendance of the fellowship is widely regarded as part of practicing the program it should not be mistaken for the program itself.
There is a common misconception that the fellowship is the program. This is not so. Careful study of the AA literature shows that the fellowship and the program are indeed two different things.
Description and history of the AA fellowship is beyond the scope of this essay. More information can be found at http://aa.org
The program of AA explained:
The problem: Alcoholism - a illness that has two parts. An allergy of the body coupled with an obsession of the mind. AA states “alcoholics are powerless over alcohol”. “We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to CONTROL our drinking”. (Page 30 Alcoholics Anonymous)
a) Allergy of the body - also described as a physical allergy to alcohol.
A person with alcoholism lacks the ability to control the amount they take once they start drinking. A physical craving develops after one or two drinks which overwhelms even a strong desire to moderate or stop and they keep on drinking. This craving happens only in people with alcoholism and is an abnormal reaction to alcohol. The medical explanation of this is that an alcoholics body metabolizes alcohol "improperly" and slightly different than a non-alcoholic. This difference sets up a craving in alcoholics AFTER they start to drink. This is why AA's benefactor Dr. W. D. Silkworth describes it is an allergy. Alcoholics have an abnormal reaction (same as an allergy) to alcohol. When non-alcoholics drink their reaction is normal, they enjoy one or two drinks and nothing bad happens. When real alcoholics have even a couple of drinks they can’t help but to continue drinking. They are compelled to keep drinking by a physical craving which is an abnormal reaction to alcohol. Alcoholics are allergic to alcohol in much the same way a person may be allergic to peanuts, but instead of developing a rash they develop this physical craving to keep drinking. This is described as the "phenomenon of craving" (Doctors opinion chapter in the AA book)
b) Obsession of the mind - also described as a mental obsession.
Even when sincerely wanting to, a *real alcoholic will find he or she cannot quit entirely. They lack the ability using will power. Real alcoholics cannot abstain from alcohol for any lasting and contented period of time even when honestly wanting to. Alcoholics have an alcoholic mind which dooms them to make the mistake of the first drink over and over again. When sincerely not wanting to drink, they might stop and be able to stay sober for awhile, but eventually go back to it with the same undesired consequences.
To summarize about alcoholics. They are:
a) Powerless to control how much they drink once they start. (this is the Physical Allergy)
b) Powerless to quit drinking entirely even when honestly wanting to. (this is the Mental Obsession)
A person with alcoholism is powerless to “fix” or relieve the problem themselves. They find they cannot completely abstain even though many are certain they must. Many alcoholics tell themselves over and over things like ”This time it's for good” or “I'm never going back to it” Only to return days, weeks or months later with the same or more pain and suffering. AA says: “They’ve lost the power of choice in drink” (AA Big Book page 24) Real Alcoholics have no control over how much they take once they start. First their alcoholic mind “tricks” or “fools” them into taking the first drink or they suffer so much from the symptons* of untreated alcoholism that they return to the only solution they know, alcohol. Then after that first drink they drink to inebriation due to the physical allergy. (see The Dr.s Opinion and More About Alcoholism in the AA Big Book Chap 3. for an in depth explanation and examples)
*Symptoms of untreated alcoholism are depression, anxiety, worry, remorse, resentment and anger etc..
"They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks-drinks which they see others taking with impunity". The Doctors Opinion Alcoholics Anonymous
The Solution:
AA was given their solution to alcoholism by the late great psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung
Jung had studied alcoholics who had recovered by what he called a “spiritual experience”. This spiritual experience, also called a spiritual awakening by AA, is a connection with a Higher Power (or God, Universal Mind, Power Greater) strong enough to give lasting relief from alcoholism. This relief is in the form of permanent abstinence from alcohol. Alcoholics return to sanity where before they repeated, over and over, the insane mistake of the first drink. AA says “we have not even sworn off. Instead the problem has been removed”. (pg. 85 Alcoholics Anonymous) This happens through power from a "God" of ones own understanding. Where alcoholics had been powerless over alcohol they find power from a God of their own understanding which allows them to think sanely concerning alcohol and thus abstain.
Note: AA does not affiliate with any religion. Is not a Christian, Buddist, Muslim, Hindu or other religious movement. AA is simply a spiritual program urging people looking for recovery to seek a "Power Greater" than oneself.
What to do – The 12 steps. A practical program of action for recovery:
Now that we know AA’s solution is a spiritual awakening the question becomes - How would an alcoholic seeking recovery get one?
AA borrowed spiritual ideas from a movement called the Oxford group. The Oxford group was an early 20th century non-denominational religious movement started by Lutheran Minister Frank N. D. Buchman. These ideas were borrowed to create what we now know as the Twelve Steps. By taking the 12 steps a person can get the desired spiritual awakening thus receiving relief and recovery from alcoholism. That relief and recovery is in the form of continued and permanent abstinence from alcohol and a useful, whole and contented life.
Note:
Alcoholics Anonymous does not offer a cure for alcoholism. What AA does offer is lasting abstinence from alcohol and a design for living through contact with a Higher Power. The Twelve Steps are a set of directions which when followed result in a spiritual awakening giving permanent and lasting recovery from alcoholism. Alcoholics on the program become recovered from alcoholism.
* The term real alcoholics is used through out the book Alcoholics Anonymous. This term is used to make the distinction between alcoholics and heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers have the ability to stop or moderate on their own willpower. Real alcoholics lack the willpower to quit entirely even when honestly wanting to.
The AA 12 steps
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and be came willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying
only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Alcoholics Anonymous Book excerpts used under AA fair use policy
all other text (c) 2013 Bring Thehope
