Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Ramblings

Lets talk about the singleness of purpose. The fact that AA is intended for people who want to recover from alcoholism and or job is to carry AAs message to other alcoholics. Ya know, people who actual drink. Even if I think all addictions are the same I should still understand that I joined AA and this was the requirement for membership. I needed them and not the other way around. So if for example my buddy isnt an alcoholic but he is a drug addict I shouldnt suggest he just go to AA anyway because they have a bigger fellowship and more meetings in our town than NA. What if there is no NA at all? Well its still not anyones right to go against AAs traditions. When AA started there were plenty of towns with only one member. They searched for another drunk to carry the message to and eventually a fellowship grew up out of that work.

What if someone is mostly a drug addict but has alway drank and drinks like an alcoholic if no drugs are available? The AA literature says we welcome drug addicts who are also alcoholics. If someone thinks they are alcoholic and “has a genuine history of alcoholism” then they are welcome.

What is someone calls themselves an addict in an AA meeting? I have seen groups ask that people not do this. I have also seen other groups confront people who do this. My personal belief is we give them the bennefit of the doubt and assume that maybe they have alcoholism but identify more as drug addicts and maybe they learned to call themselves this at some treatment center who preaches that its all addiction so why dont we just call ourselves addicts and not worry about the substances. I guess my feeling is just because someone calls themselves an addict doesnt mean they dont have alcoholism. I would maybe talk to them later as a home group memeber and see what the deal is.

What if someone openly defies the membership requirements? Well thats a home group issue. AA has traditions which are not enforcable but the homegroups who rent the facilities have the right to say who can and cannot attend their meeting. If they ask someone to leave and they refuse they certainly have the authority to have them removed by the police. Most groups I assume would opt for “aggresive diplomacy” before it came to police involvement though.

Sanity is the miracle. The notion that we are not sane when it comes to alcohol and/or drugs is the explanation for why we cant stop based on bad consequences. The AA big book illustration of the jay walker covers this. As long as I have gone to meetings nearly daily and have placed AA as my top priority I have managed to be sane in respect to alcohol. When tempted I am able to understand the outcome and have the power to turn it down. Ive seen many seemingly devoted AA members drift away from the programs into what they consider normal life only to lose this sanity and try to have a drink as if they were not alcoholics. Fear and immersion in AA kept me sober at first. Since then it has been recovery and being restored to sanity AND (most importantly) staying immersed in AA. See the common thread? Immersion in AA through meetings, fellowship, service, and step work.