Alcoholics Anonymous Programs

There are a lot of people in the world that suffer from addiction. Addiction can range from food to drugs, but one of the most common forms is alcohol abuse. Just like all other addictions, alcohol abuse not only affects the abuser, but it affects everyone around them as well. There are many long-standing programs available to both alcoholics and their families. These programs are free and are available worldwide.

Many people who suffer from alcohol abuse turn to the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program for help. AA is a group of men and women that suffer from alcohol abuse that meet together to share their experiences and struggles with getting sober. Members of AA are both rich and poor and come from a variety of backgrounds including different nationalities and religions. The common thread amongst all AA members is the desire to recover from their destructive cycle of alcohol abuse. Alcoholics Anonymous uses a twelve step program to help its members. Newcomers are not asked nor required to accept these twelve steps unless they feel ready to do so. Alcoholics Anonymous also has a sponsorship program. AA offers sponsorship opportunities that allow members to partner with other members and offer assistance in times when the urge to drink is powerful. Sponsors can offer assistance by answering questions that newcomers may have. While members are encouraged to seek sponsorship, it is not something that is automatically given to members. When a member feels the need or is ready for sponsorship, all they need to do ask. Membership in an AA chapter is free, the only requirement is that a person stops drinking. Chapters meet in a variety of locations and while a chapter may meet in a church, AA is not affiliated nor does it support any religion or for that matter any other organization, sect, or political party.

Families of alcoholics can turn to the Al-Anon and Alateen programs. Al-Anon was founded 50 years ago to help support the families. Initially, both families and alcoholics meet at the same place at the same time, but it soon became obvious that each group needed their separate support group. Al-Anon offers members the opportunity to meet with others that are affected by a loved one's alcohol abuse. New members are often afflicted with angry, frustration, and hopelessness. Together, the members of Al-Anon work to support each other and find happiness regardless of whether the alcoholic in their lives ceases to drink or not. Alateen, as the name suggests is for teenagers affected by alcohol abuse. These meetings are run by teenagers and supervised by one adult that is an Al-Anon member. At Alateen meetings, young people learn that alcoholism is a disease and they learn methods to cope.

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that can wreck havoc in the lives of not only the drinker, but their loved ones as well. Admittance of the disease is the first step to sobriety, but the alcoholic does not have to be the first to admit this. Family members can admit to the disease first and seek help. From there family members can and are better able to help the alcoholic in their life. In accordance to the AA belief, there is no cure for alcoholism. Once you are an alcoholic, you will always remain one due to the daily struggle of learning not to drink. When dealing with alcoholism, it truly is one day at a time.