Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship - Literature review Example

Alcoholics Anonymous In 1930s, alcoholism was very much widespread in America. Many people, especially Christians, believed that it was caused by moral failure as the medical doctors termed it lethal and incurable. As this condition worsened, many people sought assistance from various people, organizations, and places. Those who were not financially stable sought assistance from state hospitals, religious groups and charitable organizations. Those who were financially stable went for medical services in various hospitals for long term treatment. Due to the increased concern of the public about alcoholism, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith formed an international mutual aid fellowship in 1935 at Akron, Ohio to help alcoholics to stop drinking (Northeast Texas Area Archives, 17). They formed the group while still under the Oxford Group but when the Oxford pastors accused them of leading a divergent group, they quitted. As it came to existence, it was described as a fellowship of people of all genders who share their experiences, hope and strength with an aim of solving a common problem and help one another to stop alcoholism (Northeast Texas Area Archives, 17). The group retained its anonymity in public as this was observed as the way of attracting new members (A.A. Grapevine, 8). It was believed that failure to disclose the identity of the members would encourage many members to join. The early members of the alcoholics anonymous designed its twelve step program for both character and spiritual development. In order to make alcoholics anonymous grow and stabilize, twelve alcoholics’ anonymous traditions were put in place in 1946 (Northeast Texas Area Archives, 17). The AA got its concepts from medicine, psychiatry and religion resources as well as their own experience of alcoholism and recovery. AA founder members used trial and error method for about ten years to come up with these concepts. The concepts that worked were considered as those failed discarded. The AA members used the disease concept of alcoholism and related it to the religious facts. Alcoholism was believed to be a medical condition that can only be handled by spiritual means (Kurtz, 2). Through this the AA could draw its concepts. Group was based on spiritual aspects but they were not clearly defined so as to accommodate all people (Kurtz, 3). The fellowship was based on twelve steps and twelve traditions. The twelve Steps were designed in order to initiate spiritual and character development that is crucial in assisting AA members stop drinking. They are declarations that make the members of the AA to feel in the right fellowship. As per the twelve steps, all the members should (General Service Office of A.A, 12); a) Admit that they had no power over alcohol. This is the first step that can make members feel to be in the right fellowship. The virtue of being powerless is believed to be the one that made them unable to manage their lives. b) Believe that a power greater than them can restore them to their original state of sanity. This makes them have hope which facilitates their restoration c) Turn their will and lives to the God’s care having understood him. d) Feel that they made a moral inventory that is both self searching and fearless by being the AA members. Through this they are justified to continue being happy members of the fellowship. e) Admit their exact nature of their wrongs to God, to themselves and to other human beings. This is the path to seeking peace with their personality, other people and the Supreme Being. f) Be ready for their character defects to be removed by God. g) Ask God humbly to remove their weaknesses. This makes them feel that they are transformed in order to live a better life. h) Make a list of all people they had offended and willingly make amends to all of them. i) Directly make amend to these people in any possible way with exception of cases where making amends if chaotic to them or to others. This step is oriented to making peace with all men which is a key step for one to soldier on with the new life. j) Make prompt admittance when they do wrong and continue taking personal inventory. Being conscious of daily deeds prepares one to achieve long term goals. k) Improve their conduct with God through meditation and prayer so as to know his will and how to fulfill it. This step is crucial in bringing all involved individuals close to God as their care taker and redeemer of their lives. l) Carry this good massage to all other alcoholics as well as putting all the principles they have acquired into practice in all their daily activities. This should b carried out after spiritual awakening brought about by all other steps when put in practices. In addition to the twelve steps, twelve traditions were put in place so as to help the alcoholics anonymous to stabilize and grow. They give the lead for the governance of the organization. They are widely used in the solving of conflicts relating to finances, publicity, and religion. The members of the alcoholics anonymous have these believes which make their traditions (General Service Office of A.A, 8); a) Their common welfare should be given the priority because the unity of their fellowship is the core factor in personal recovery. b) Their leaders are not governors but trusted servants of God who is the only ultimate authority to all members. This tradition calls for all to seek the will of God as the base of their actions. c) The desire to stop drinking is the sole requirement for the AA membership. This makes this organization be very specific so as to be effective in addressing this common problem. d) Each group of AA is independent from all others but for matters affecting other groups or cutting across AA as hole. This tradition is aimed at distributing responsibilities so as to effectively reach each member. e) The primary purpose of each group is to spread the good message to the alcoholics who are still suffering. Once the member is assistance, it is his/her obligation to help others from the captivity of alcoholism. f) In order to ensure that problems of money, prestige and property do not change their purpose, no group within AA should lend, finance or endorse the AA name to outside enterprise or related facility. g) Outside contributions should not be accepted so as to enhance the culture that will ensure that every AA group is self-supporting. This is to make sure that AA stays away from external interference likely to divert its purpose (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc, 29). h) AA centers may employ a number of special workers but it should always remain non-professional. i) Service boards or committees responsible to those they serve may be created but the AA should not be totally organized. This subdivision ensures that AA is able to reach all individuals who enroll to it. j) AA should not give its opinion on outside issues so as to avoid public controversy. This tradition ensures that the purpose of the AA should only be known by its members. k) AA members should always be anonymous to press, films and radio so as to maintain their public relation policy which is for attraction not for promotion. l) Their spiritual foundation of all their traditions is Anonymity and should always remind them to place principles before their personalities. Due to the anonymity of the members of AA, it is hard to learn much about the group. Most of the details that are gotten by various people and organizations are only generalized (Ferri, Amato, Davoli, 11). Various comparisons between the recovery rate of members of the AA and non-members have shown that AA members have a better recovery rate. Although many members of the AA drop out from the program, research has shown that 31% of all the people undergo this program successfully (Ferri, Amato, Davoli, 11). Members of AA have an advantage over non-members as they obtain other benefits such as behavioral changes. The extent of the achievements of AA is not known since AA has no records of memberships as well as of its progress. In the process of helping alcoholics stop drinking, AA members conduct regular meeting so as to pass relevant massage to all its members (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc, 34). There are two types of meetings conducted; the closed and the open meetings. The closed meeting is for the AA members and those who intend to stop drinking only. Non members are not allowed in this meeting. The open meeting allows other people who have interest in the AA to attend (A.A. Grapevine, 13). These people may be there as observers. Every meeting has a chairperson who ensures that the meeting is strictly about helping people to become sober. Formats of various meeting are not similar but the widely acceptable meeting involves the chair person opening the meeting with a few remarks. Others may start by observing a moment of silence then recite a Serenity prayer (A.A. Grapevine, 14). Most of the groups read about the twelve traditions and twelve steps. The chairperson reminds the attendees about the importance of maintaining anonymity and keeping the groups secrets. At the end of the meeting, all the members join in the moment of silence which is either followed by a prayer or recitation of Responsibility Declaration (A.A. Grapevine, 15). There are various meetings in AA which include; discussion meetings in which a selected topic from AA literature is discussed; beginners meeting where the new members of the AA hold a meeting led by an old member who has been sober for a while; speaker meeting in which one of the members shares the contents of AA literature with others; step or tradition meeting in which members are taught each step or tradition at a time; group inventory or service meeting which are aimed at working for the progress of the AA (A.A. Grapevine, 15). Based on the findings, AA is a group which uses concepts form medical and spiritual aspects in handling problems of alcoholism. Due to the anonymity of the group it is hard to track its achievements. Even its members do not do much about it. Despite this, it has helped many people to get over the alcoholism. The people are encouraged to join the group because their identity will not be disclosed to the public. Although for now most of its activities are concentrated in USA and Canada with time it will be of much benefit to the global community. Works cited A.A. Grapevine, The A.A. Group …Where it all begins How a group functions How to get started, 2005. Web 24/6/2013 Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc. (1976). Alcoholics Anonymous. Ernest Kurtz, “‘Spiritual Rather Than Religious’: The Contribution of Alcoholics Anonymous,” pp. 51-62, Foundation Series on Treatment and Recovery, 2008. Web 24/6/2013 < http://hindsfoot.org/tcek04.pdf> General Service Office of A.A, A.A. FACT FILE Grand Central Station, New York, 2001. Web 24/6/2013. Marica Ferri, Laura Amato, and Marina Davoli, Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs for alcohol dependence, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2009, Web 24/6/2013. http://life.umt.edu/curry/DOcs-SOS/Current%20Peer%20Educators/Articles/Ferri_et_al.pdf Northeast Texas Area Archives, A Narrative Timeline Of AA History, 2004. Web 24/6/2013 Read More