People suffering from alcohol and drug addictions are one of the USA’s common problems. Those who managed to overcome one of these addictions is now trying to help other anonymous who are still struggling with this problem. Information about the existence of clubs of narcotic and alcohol anonymous is becoming more extensive, and I believe that a considerable number of addicted people are finding a way of salvation. One of the meetings I have attended is usually held at the church, but the other is outside the church. They have different strategies and event plans, which make them to differ from each other. Having attended both meetings, I can describe them as two separate events to solve the same problem of a human’s willpower.
Alcohol Anonymous
Alcohol anonymous meeting called “Back to Basics” located at Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, left me deeply impressed by the peace and tranquility of communication of such an unusual stratum of our society. Every participant clearly understands that they attend the meeting to change their lives and look for themselves. A tense aura hovered at the beginning of the meeting because some participants were new and could not keep their nervousness. However, in a few minutes, everyone relaxed, and the meeting became calmer and more friendly. People who are not first-time attending meetings are immediately visible because they are talkative and constantly supportive. The chairperson, leading and controlling meetings, believes that the desire to speak out does not come immediately but after several meetings. Nobody is forced to be active, and those who came to listen to others are always welcome. I was impressed by the fact that at the beginning of the meetings the group finds a volunteer who reads an excerpt from the book as a prayer, and the discussion of personal experiences begins. At the end, they all gather in a circle and say a closing prayer. It was not the end of the meeting for some participants, and they continued socializing with like-minded people.
Narcotic Anonymous
Narcotic anonymous’ meetings have approximately the same structure as Alcohol anonymous meetings, but they still differ and can be described as separated types of salvation for addicted people. I visited a meeting named “Another Choice” at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 587 Springfield Avenue, and managed to understand the main difference between Narcotic and Alcohol summits. The literature used during narcotic meetings does not say that stop using drugs will make your life better, but it says that the person will receive freedom from active addiction. There are many types of drugs which affect human’s organism differently, while alcohol affects our bodies in almost the same way. Surprisingly, the meeting was attended by many people of different conditions, and all were treated equally. Organizers warmly welcomed the homeless, unkempt, lost people, and hugging was the primary condition of the meeting. Addicted people had an opportunity to speak out on set topics at the beginning of the meeting, and it was difficult to interrupt them. One of the fighting strategies I noticed is a donation, but only addicts can donate to start building their drug-free future. My experience of visiting this meeting is fundamentally different from visiting the AA meeting as those suffering from drugs need socialization to fill the empty time when they do drugs.
Conclusion
Alcohol and Narcotic meetings are helpers in creating a healthier society. Having attended these meetings, I pointed out that they bring more help than it seems at first glance, and the idea of creating such meetings inspired me. I learned that alcohol addicts are like everyone else, but in a more difficult life situation, and these people have the right to be treated equally. Controversially, I was overwhelmed with emotions and realized that helping drug addicts is what I could do for the rest of my life. Like-minded people help each other and, thereby, save themselves from decay, and my experience of visiting both meetings made me understand how social help is essential in our society.