The Facts behind Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), founded in 1935, is a
12-step program that is designed to help the alcoholic recover.
A.A. is based on personal experience as a means for people to help each
other to stop drinking. Over the years, A.A. has helped hundreds
of thousands of alcoholics to recover and become sober.
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The first step of the A.A. program is for the alcoholic
to recognize and admit that he or she has a problem with alcohol.
This is the first and most important step because it means that the
alcoholic has come out of the denial stage and realizes that alcohol is
causing problems in his life. A.A. is set up for the alcoholic to
obtain complete abstinence from alcohol. The program focuses on
changing a person's attitude and way of life rather than simply
behavior modification. Abstinence from alcohol is a life change
for the alcoholic. The premise of the program is to work the 12
steps and if the person returns to alcohol after a time of abstinence
he or she is not scolded or asked to leave the program but is simply
encouraged to start over and continue working through the steps.
The 12 steps are numbered because they are designed to be taken in
order.
There is a spiritual aspect to A.A. but members are not
required to believe in anything. Another focus of the program is
for the alcoholic to make amends with people he has brought harm to by
drinking and to pass along to other A.A. members what they have learned
and accomplished by working through the steps of the program.
A.A. does not have to be used as a stand-alone
treatment. It can be used with other recovery programs and even
medical detoxification and rehabilitation. There are A.A.
meetings on any given night all over the world. Anyone needing a
meeting at anytime should be able to attend one, get the support, and
help that he or she needs. A.A. also has associated programs
called Al-Anon and Al-Ateen that are for the spouses, children, and
other family members of alcoholics.
The 12 steps of A.A. are:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understtood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious
contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of
His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we
tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these
principles in all our affairs.
Alcoholism in the News
07/29/2010
Tuesday, August 31
We are Christ centered 12 step program. We meet every Tuesday. We deal with everything from alcoholism, co-dependency, food issues, gambling, abuse recovery. !!Child care available!!
Tuesday, August 31
07/30/2010
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program
The focus of the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction's grant celebration this morning was on healthy eating and exercise, but Donato Medina quickly became the center of attention.
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program
07/22/2010
Alcoholism compromises safety, productivity
ALCOHOLISM is a disease that affects more than just the alcoholic. Friends, family and co-workers often pay the price for the alcoholics behaviour. For employers, this price tag is more than just an emotional one.
Alcoholism compromises safety, productivity
07/29/2010
Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says
The president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence says that returning to work can help Lindsay Lohan successfully recover from her addictions.
Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says
07/30/2010
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program - Monday afternoon update
The focus of the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction's grant celebration Monday morning was on healthy eating and exercise, but the excitement of a 10-year-old boy with a new bike quickly became the center of attention.
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program - Monday afternoon update
07/29/2010
Tuesday, August 31
We are Christ centered 12 step program. We meet every Tuesday. We deal with everything from alcoholism, co-dependency, food issues, gambling, abuse recovery. !!Child care available!!
Tuesday, August 31
07/29/2010
Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says
The president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence says that returning to work can help Lindsay Lohan successfully recover from her addictions.
Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says
07/30/2010
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program - Monday afternoon update
The focus of the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction's grant celebration Monday morning was on healthy eating and exercise, but the excitement of a 10-year-old boy with a new bike quickly became the center of attention.
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program - Monday afternoon update
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