While Rudy's perspective is certainly marked by an appreciation for the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous for alcoholics who seek sobriety, he is nevertheless objective and balanced in his analysis of AA. As Rudy writes in the Notes section of his book, "Nearly half of the reviews that addressed my relationship to AA charged that I had gone 'native' [i.e., fallen under the spell of AA and lost scientific objectivity] while the other half argued that I have been superficial or ethnocentric [i.e., failed to deeply enough appreciate the worth of AA]. I interpret such disagreement as support that I have successfully straddled the middle of the road" (Rudy 134).

The perspective of Rudy is relatively unique in that he truly seems to seek such middle-of-the-road objectivity, in comparison to other works which seem to openly argue for or against AA as the primary avenue for recovery from alcoholism. Rudy offers the reader criticisms of AA, while at the same time making clear that there are indeed many benefits presented to alcoholics by AA, benefits which are not yet available from other sources.

With respect to public policy, then, based on Rudy's conclusions it is vital that treatment programs emphasize the social elements of recovery. The individual alcoholic will very likely find it impossible to recover separate from a community of recovering alcoholics. This has been, at least, the experience of alcoholics who have found recovery success in Alcoholics Anonymous.

The "war on drugs" or "drug control" in any form will not stop the alcohol/drug program. Restriction of alcohol sales to individuals 18 or 21 has not kept children from obtaining alcohol, just as Prohibition did not work. Drug education is certainly a step in the right direction, but by itself it will prove no more effective than drug control through attacks on Colombian drug lords or destruction of alcohol commercials. All of these approaches are useful, but without the implementation on a national level of the principles and practices of Alcoholics Anonymous, those more superficial efforts will prove negligible in the fight against alcoholism and drug addiction.

Goode, Erich. Drugs in American Society. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1989.

Rudy's objectivity is emphasized by his honesty about his own feelings.

Treatment and prevention programs, then, should emphasize the communal, collective nature of both alcoholism/addiction and recovery from alcoholism/addiction. Certainly peer pressure plays a role in alcoholism/addiction, and peer pressure can also play a part in initiating recovery. The problem is that "Pressure" is not what works in AA, but, rather, group acceptance, group sharing, group involvement in positive, healthful activities. The individual may be bullied or pressured into using alcohol and drugs, but he will not be bullied or pressured into successful, long-term recovery. This must be, as in AA, a matter first and last of individual choice, individual responsibility, individual commitment--always within the communal environment such as is provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and such as is recommended by Rudy.

After a list of personal explanations from recovering members of AA with respect to their lonely, desperate drinking experiences, Rudy writes that "The loneliness and isolation of these explanations are the exact opposite of the sharing, love, and involvement of the typical AA setting. AA members frequently describe in testimonials the warmth, intimacy, caring and sharing that typify the 'fellowship of AA.' Perhaps the AA society's reestablishment of social relationships . . . indicates real social relations among many heavy drinkers . . . . Weakened interpersonal support systems, permissive and ambivalent sanctioning responses, normalization of deviant drinkers by others, and withdrawal are factors contributing toward the development of drinking problems" (Rudy 112).

This theoretical perspective is especially useful, again, because it deals with the importance of symbols in human affairs and because AA is an organization which deals in spiritual matters, matters which are themselves more conducive to symbolic rather than concrete study.

It is vital that public policy be based on the increasingly accepted conclusion--endorsed by the sources consulted by Rudy--that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases. The "Just Say No" approach implies that a person who says yes is somehow evil, or immoral, or weak. The disease concept frees the individual from responsibility for his disease--but does not free him from responsibility for his actions and, finally, for his recovery.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Alcoholics Anonymous, AA Rudy, Steps AA, Whereas Rudy, AA Concerning, American Society, AA' AA, Addicted Populations, I'm I'm, Medical Association, alcoholics anonymous, , drug addiction, alcoholism drug, symbolic interactionist, disease concept, public policy, alcoholism drug addiction, alcoholism alcoholics anonymous, observation in-depth, nature alcoholism, interactionist perspective, observation in-depth interviewing, define focus research, shape define focus,
Approximate Word count = 2741
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)