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AA Support Group Observation

AA Support Group Observation

By
Jennifer Celtrick

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AA Support Group Observation

Abstract
This paper covers my observation of an AA support meeting. I will discuss the origins of AA, a
brief overview of Alcohol Use Disorder, and description of the actual meeting.

AA Support Group Observation

AA Overview

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AA Support Group Observation

AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous. The root of AA dates back to 1934 when an
alcoholic from New York named Bill found his life spiraling downward. He was told by a friend
named Ebby about how using the principals of the Oxford Group, which was a popular early 20th
century religious movement whose members practiced a method of self-improvement by using
self-inventory, which meant making amends, admitting wrongs, utilizing prayer and meditation,
and passing the message along to others, helped him free himself from the grips of alcohol (Over
75 years of growth, 2015).
Bill did not take much stock in what his friend said until December of that same year
when once again he found himself admitted to Towns Hospital for treatment (Over 75 years of
growth, 2015). It was during this admission that Bill had a profound spiritual awaking and
decided from that moment forward that he would no longer drink and set out to help others (Over
75 years of growth, 2015). His vision came to fruition when in 1935 he partnered with a likeminded doctor and together developed the 12 step program (Over 75 years of growth, 2015).
Today the program is international with an unknown membership number due to the basis of
anonymity.
Alcohol Use Disorder
DSM-5 combines alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into one disorder called Alcohol
Use Disorder and has mild, moderate, and severe sub classes (Alcohol Use Disorder, November
2013). There are 11 criterias and include such items as amount used, cravings, and withdrawal
effects (Alcohol Use Disorder, November 2013). A minimum of 2 criterias must be met in a 12
month period to be classified as having AUD and the severity is based on the total number of
criteria met (Alcohol Use Disorder, November 2013). In 2012 it was estimated that 17 million or

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AA Support Group Observation

7.2 percent of adults aged 18 and older had an AUD. Of the 17 million, 11.2 million were men
and 5.7 million were woman (Alcohol Use Disorder, 2013). AUD can also be found in
adolescents with 855,000 aged 12-17 had an AUD in the year 2012 (Alcohol Use Disorder).
AA Support Meeting
The meeting I attended was in the basement of the Allegiance Addiction Recovery
Center. The meeting was open for anyone to attend. The group leader was around age 50 and was
a former patient of the AARC and said they were the best recovery center and the only one that
worked for him. Now two years sober he leads the first step meeting on Monday night for all
those who are just starting the road to sobriety. There were 8 inpatients, ranging from their 20s
to early 60s and 1 person from the outside that was 20 days in and recently left the AARC. All
total there were 6 men and 4 women.
The meeting lasted about an hour. Every meeting is started out with the Serenity Prayer
and a moment of silence for all those still struggling with addiction and closed with The Lords
Prayer. The group leader lays down the rules for the night, which is treat all those with respect,
give everyone the chance to speak if they wish too, and that they are free to leave at any time.
The meetings are to benefit those struggling with alcohol addiction. The 12 Steps of Alcoholic
Anonymous were read, which is the self-inventory process and giving oneself to a higher power
and admitting openly that one is powerless against alcohol and that life has become
unmanageable to Him, themselves and another person as well as making amends to all those they
wronged (The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, 1981). Everyone was given the
opportunity to speak, about their addiction, their readiness for change, and any other concerns
they have.

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AA Support Group Observation

The goal of attendance is to gain what someone else has, the freedom from the control of
alcohol and the return of meaning and order to their life and that they pass this knowledge on to
the next person. Only first names were given out to maintain anonymity and confidentiality and
the only time that any other information was given was if someone was setting up a sponsorship,
which is where a new member finds a longer attending member that is a good fit for them and
exchanges contact information so that they have person to talk to if they find themselves having
a difficult day and to also to encourage them to keep going to meetings. The group was very
diverse with all type of backgrounds. Many of those attending used more than one type of drug.
Some still had their family units intact, a home to return to, a job, while others were on the verge
of losing everything.
The whole experience was amazing and moving. AA is a wonderful resource. Attendance
is free and open to all who are willing; no matter how many times they have attended before and
lost traction. The leader was straight forward and to the point, as long as everyone who came was
willing to try then he was behind them 100 percent and would do what he could to help. Sobriety
begins with a personal choice; AA helps maintain that choice by providing a supportive non
judging environment to promote the up most personal spiritual growth and sobriety.

References

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AA Support Group Observation

Alcohol Use Disorder. (2013). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders
Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison Between DSMIV and DSM5. (2013, November).
Retrieved March 18, 2015, from
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/dsmfactsheet/dsmfact.htm
Over 75 Years of Growth. (2015, January 1). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/aa-timeline?query=members number
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. (1981). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-121_en.pdf