The Importance of Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Essay

Introduction

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are an important part of bringing together people who are trying to recover from addiction to alcohol. They provide a safe place for addicts to share their stories, get encouragement, and develop coping methods. In general, AA is a mutual aid society created in 1935 that assists those suffering from alcoholism (Motyka & Al-Imam, 2020). The different methods in which AA gatherings can benefit individuals in recovery are through establishing a sense of community and personal accountability.

Expectations on What to Learn from an Alcoholic Anonymous Meeting

AA gatherings are intended to provide individuals battling with alcohol addiction with support, counseling, and a sense of community. Firstly, those joining AA meetings are intended to realize that they are not on their own in their fight against addiction. According to Brown and Stewart (2021), the interpersonal support given by AA gatherings can be an important aspect in encouraging alcohol addiction recovery. A feeling of belonging can be extremely empowering, making people feel more inspired to stick to their sobriety objectives.

Furthermore, AA meetings are intended to offer individuals practical resources and techniques for staying sober. According to Kaskutas et al. (2019), AA meetings frequently focus on assisting members in identifying and avoiding triggers, coping with cravings, and developing healthier coping mechanisms. Members may also discuss suggestions for remaining sober in stressful situations, like social gatherings. Additionally, AA meetings assist people in reflecting on their individual experiences, identifying behavioral trends, and developing a stronger awareness of themselves (Tracy et al., 2021). Individuals can obtain fresh insights and views on their addiction by paying attention to others’ experiences and expressing their own, which can be extremely beneficial in their journey to recovery.

Impacting the Understanding of Alcohol and Alcoholism by Attending AA Meetings

One of the most central concepts of AA is that alcohol addiction is an illness, not a character flaw or a lack of resolve. According to a study by Kelly et al. (2020), this narrative can help overcome feelings of guilt and self-blame that commonly accompany addiction. Individuals might start looking at their conduct in a more sympathetic and non-judgmental manner by knowing that their alcoholism is an illness, which can be a crucial step toward recovery. Attending AA meetings can influence someone’s comprehension of alcohol and alcoholism by affirming that addiction is an illness that may require progressive effort.

The most fundamental concept of AA is that recovery is achievable, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Attending AA meetings, according to Parker et al. (2021), can offer people an atmosphere of optimism and hope, as they see individuals who have accomplished and sustained sobriety. This awareness can be a great motivator for those who believe their addiction is unbeatable, and it can help them recognize that change is within reach.

How AA Meetings Promote Strategizes for Responsible Drinking or Harm Reduction

Addressing the notion of “controlled drinking,” which entails setting boundaries on the amount of alcohol drank and preventing drinking in circumstances that may provoke problematic behavior, is one way that AA meetings can promote practices for safe drinking and harm reduction. According to a study by Kelly et al. (2020), this narrative can help overcome feelings of guilt and self-blame that commonly accompany addiction. Individuals might start looking at their conduct in a more sympathetic and non-judgmental manner by knowing that their alcoholism is an illness, which can be a crucial step toward recovery. As Kaskutas et al. (2019) point out, joining AA meetings can serve as an essential first step in gaining access to support and assistance. It can assist individuals in managing their addiction and reducing their risk of harm.

Another way that AA meetings can encourage harm reduction measures is by educating people about the effects of drinking and the dangers of binge drinking. Some AA meetings may incorporate educational components that discuss the physical, psychological, and social implications of alcohol use (Can Gür & Okanli, 2019). This information can assist individuals in making educated drinking decisions and recognizing the possible risks connected with excessive alcohol use.

Treatment, Prevention, and Interdiction Data Concerning AA Meetings

AA meetings can be used as a form of alcoholism treatment as shown by several studies, which have been conducted to investigate their effectiveness. A meta-analysis of 27 research indicates that attending AA meetings was linked to a greater likelihood of alcohol-free behavior (Witkiewitz et al., 2020). Another study compared the efficacy of AA to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and discovered that while both interventions were equally useful for fostering abstinence, AA was more beneficial for encouraging personal and spiritual growth (Kelly et al., 2020). This implies that the advantages of AA meetings can be fully realized with other integrated therapies.

Although AA meetings are largely used to treat alcoholism, some research has looked into their prospects as a preventive measure. According to one study, adolescents who joined AA meetings had reduced incidences of alcohol use and binge drinking compared to those who did not (Bogenschutz et al., 2019). Another study discovered that joining AA meetings in the initial year after treatment was connected to lower relapse rates and higher rates of cessation (Kaskutas et al., 2019). This indicates that attending can lead to relatively lower rates of drinking, and enhance overall functioning in people with an alcohol use disorder.

Concerning interdiction, a randomized controlled trial discovered that an AA intervention aimed at developing compassion and empathy in law enforcement officers resulted in significant advancements in their attitudes toward addicts and work satisfaction (Rizzolo et al., 2019). Another study discovered that collaborations between law enforcement and community-based organizations, such as AA, were useful for combating substance abuse and lowering drug-related offenses (Haughwout et al., 2018). Overall, AA meetings can be an important part of alcohol treatment and may have a wider scope in the disciplines of prevention and decision-making.

Use of AA Meetings in Law Enforcement

AA meetings can be effective in the realm of law enforcement as a substitute for incarceration for people who have committed alcohol-related felonies. Those who join AA meetings as a component of a court-mandated curriculum may be less likely to commit future offenses than those who are jailed, based on research by Gibson et al. (2018). Additionally, AA gatherings can help to reduce rates of recidivism and promote more efficient and empathetic approaches to policing.

Another advantage of AA meetings for law enforcement is the ability to help officers understand addiction and the difficulties that people who battle with substance use issues encounter. Attending AA meetings, according to Rizzolo et al. (2019), can assist law enforcement officers in showing kindness toward people suffering from addiction. This can strengthen their interrelations with these people and lead to more desirable impacts.

AA sessions can also assist law enforcement to strengthen their connections with the people they serve by encouraging empathy and understanding. According to Haughwout et al. (2018), law enforcement departments that collaborate with community-based organizations like AA can increase confidence and credibility among community members. This can aid in the reduction of crime and the promotion of public safety.

Conclusion

Those battling with alcohol addiction can benefit greatly from attending AA meetings, which provide a helpful and nonjudgmental atmosphere in which they can talk about their struggles and develop methods to manage their addiction. These sessions are based on the premise that by embracing one another and accepting ownership of their behavior, individuals can achieve long-term recovery. Ultimately, AA meetings highlight the importance of community as well as individual responsibility in dealing with addiction, and they remain a significant resource for people in recovery all around the world.

References

Bogenschutz, M. P., Worthy, S. L., Tonigan, J. S., Lee, C. M., & Otto, M. W. (2019). Pilot randomized trial of group motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy in adolescents with alcohol use disorder. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 97, 21-29. Web.

Brown, C., & Stewart, S. H. (2021). Harm reduction for women in treatment for alcohol use problems: Exploring the impact of dominant addiction discourse. Qualitative health research, 31(1), 54-69. Web.

Can Gür, G., & Okanli, A. (2019). The effects of cognitive-behavioral model-based intervention on depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy in alcohol use disorder. Clinical Nursing Research, 28(1), 52-78. Web.

Gibson, S., Woodford, M., & Czeizinger Jr, T. J. (2018). Avoiding the last ride: Can DUI programming address multiple risk factors to reduce recidivism?Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 39(2), 66-77. Web.

Haughwout, S. P., Nguyen, H. T., Brooks-Russell, A., & Kuth, M. R. (2018). Beyond enforcement: Law enforcement partnerships with community-based organizations in addressing substance use. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 92, 43-50. Web.

Kaskutas, L. A., Witbrodt, J., French, M. T., Gallagher, C., King, K., & Hamilton, N. (2019). Day hospital and residential addiction treatment: Randomized and nonrandomized managed care clients compared. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 100, 30-39. Web.

Kelly, J. F., Greene, M. C., Bergman, B. G., & Hoeppner, B. B. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of intensive outpatient treatment plus acceptance and commitment therapy versus intensive outpatient treatment plus Alcoholics Anonymous for individuals with alcohol use disorder. Addiction, 116(7), 1698-1707. Web.

Kelly, J. F., Humphreys, K., & Ferri, M. (2020). Alcoholics anonymous and other 12‐step programs for alcohol use disorder. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (3). Web.

Motyka, M. A., & Al-Imam, A. (2020). Pragmatism of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship. Global Journal of Health Science, 12(6), 119-127. Web.

Parker, K. A., Roberson, L. B., Ivanov, B., Carter, R. E., & Riney, N. (2021). The road to recovery from addiction: A qualitative exploration of motivators and challenges to achieving sobriety in recovery housing. International Journal of Health, Wellness & Society, 11(2). Web.

Rizzolo, M. C., Huggins, J. E., & Weisburd, D. (2019). Building empathy and compassion in law enforcement officers: A randomized controlled trial of an Alcoholics Anonymous intervention. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 15(4), 591-613. Web.

Tracy, K., McCauley, K., Wray, T., Greenfield, T. K., & Kaskutas, L. A. (2021). Reflections on addiction and recovery among men and women in alcoholics anonymous: A qualitative study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 120, 108183. Web.

Witkiewitz, K., Pearson, M. R., Hallgren, K. A., Maisto, S. A., Kirouac, M., & Wilson, A. D. (2020). Who achieves low risk drinking during alcohol treatment? An analysis of patients in three alcohol clinical trials. Addiction, 115(1), 64-73. Web.