Alcoholics Anonymous

A detailed Summary of Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcohol is not only legal, but is also one of the most abused drugs in the world. People from various cultures perceive drinking in different contexts, and huge amounts of alcohol are consumed annually around the world.

Ethyl alcohol is produced through fermentation of the sugar contained in fruits and grains. Beverages such as wine and beer have low alcohol content, but hard liquor such as vodka and whiskey is distilled in able to increase the alcohol concentration. Alcohol is usually consumed orally, and in rare cases injected. It distributes itself fast and evenly through body water, and it easily trespasses the blood-brain barrier and the placental barrier. Even at low levels, alcohol disrupts performance and interferes with complex activities. It generally causes feelings of happiness and reduces the ability of aversive events to control behavior. High doses cause loud, energetic behavior, and even higher doses cause loss of consciousness and death.

Tolerance to alcohol develops after regular and large amounts of consumption. It also creates physical dependence and serious withdrawal symptoms that can cause death if left untreated.

Excessive drinking, or alcoholism has many explanations. The disease model claims that alcoho

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In conclusion, AA works. It delivers sobriety to its members, but only to those who are willing to sacrifice some things and those who really want to stay sober. Like every other treatment, it is only effective and helps those who want to be helped.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by an alcoholic stockbroker and an alcoholic physician, both of who were unsuccessfully trying to quit drinking. They found that their fellowship and that of the group helped them to stop drinking and helping other alcoholics to stay sober seemed to be making an important contribution to the maintenance of their own sobriety. The organization has grown rapidly, and as of 1999 it is estimated that there are two million members around the world.

In able to have a realistic perspective of what an AA meeting was, I personally attended one here on campus. Since I assumed they did not want anyone who was not an alcoholic to participate in their meetings, I lied and said I thought I could be an alcoholic. On this particular meeting there were only three women. At the beginning of the meeting they read out loud the AA Twelve Traditions and the AA Twelve Steps toward sobriety (copies of these are attached to the paper). After that they each said their name and talked about their ideas, beliefs and personal problems with AA

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Approximate Word count = 933
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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