Alcoholics Anonymous has been around for more than 30 years. The name itself is derived from the phrase An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a non-profit non-religious international voluntary organization with the stated goal of helping its members stop drinking and help others achieve sobriety through the process of group therapy and support. AA is not-for profit self-help-oriented and apolitical. Its only membership requirement is the desire to quit drinking.
The goal of AA is to get a person to realize that they have a problem with drinking and that it is hurting them in many different ways. Through a series of meetings or blessings people will be encouraged to discuss their alcohol problems with each other and seek out the help that is necessary. In addition a member can also meet with a counselor who works closely with the member. In a twelve-step program an alcoholic will be encouraged to take responsibility for their drinking and ask God for strength and guidance in their battle against alcoholism. In addition they will learn to face their fears get help from other people who have been through similar situations and have faith in themselves. The program also teaches its members how to live a higher purpose in life and take steps toward their goals.
The twelve steps are part of the core of AA’s philosophy. There are also twelve specific remedies that can be taken to overcome addiction. The last twelve are usually the most difficult to overcome because they involve an addict admitting their guilt to a group of people and then working toward getting back into a positive frame of mind. The AA members are taught how to forgive others and how to put things in perspective. They learn how to develop new habits and how to trust in God. The main goal of this program is to help people recover from the destructive drinking habit and to become stronger and healthier people in their lives.
