Substance Abuse : Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery

Greg soon befriended a guy named Yuri after seeing an Alcoholics Anonymous book in his desk drawer. While they were out having dinner, Yuri began telling Greg about his troubles at the office. How he was tied up in a particular trade and the owners were pissed at him. They were two brothers, both of whom were licensed commodities brokers but were still capable of turning “Hood” and kicking some ass. Talking more with Yuri, Greg was soon introduced to Alex who was once a market trader and strategist for currencies in Hong Kong as well as London. Greg soon had a plan. One day while visiting the third floor, learning the grid from Alex, Yuri bust into the room beat up wearing a swollen lip and a black eye. I later learned that Yuri lost

The 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known treatment method that’s used for many types of addiction, not just alcohol. Alcoholics are encouraged to “work” the 12-steps. The first step involves admitting the powerlessness over alcohol. The second step has the alcoholic believe that there is some type of a greater power working that will help aide the alcoholic to reach sobriety, as well as maintain is once reached. This step is an example of the religious influence on the 12-step recovery process.

Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a 12-step spiritual program for those who have a desire to stop drinking. It is open to all those who seek help all over the world. Thousands of alcoholics have become victorious because of the spiritual foundation it was built on. In 1939 the first book, Alcoholics Anonymous, was published. It held all of the struggles and hope filled stories of some of the first alcoholics that joined the group. This book, later called “The Big Book”, would lay down all of the suggestions for an alcoholic if he or she wanted to live a sober life. The program focuses on the 12 steps to help newcomers adjust to this way of life. Upon entering the program, it is suggested that the newcomer pick a sponsor to help guide them through the steps. Furthermore, service work within the fellowship is also recommended.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in the basis that alcoholism cannot be healed medically, but spiritually. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1939 by Bill Wilson, and Dr. Robert Smith (B’s, n.d.). The main goal of Alcoholics Anonymous is recovery from alcoholism, and to fully abstain from consuming alcohol. Several non-stated goals are staying out of jail, fixing a financial situation, or becoming happier (Trizio, 2006). After attending in a meeting for Alcoholics Anonymous, I could tell that there was a much deeper meaning for the word ‘sobriety’ for people who suffer from alcoholism.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most well-known and widely available self-help group for alcoholics in treatment and recovery. AA uses fellowship and a set of guided principles—the 12 steps—to help members achieve and maintain sobriety. The goal is total abstinence from drinking. In the beginning stages, “clients can be emotionally fragile, ambivalent about relinquishing chemicals, and resistant to treatment. Thus, treatment strategies focus on immediate concerns: achieving abstinence, preventing relapse, and managing cravings. Also, to establish a stable working group, a relatively active leader emphasizes therapeutic factors like hope, group cohesion, and universality. In the middle, or action, stage of treatment, clients need the group’s assistance in recognizing that their substance abuse causes many of their problems and blocks them from getting things they want. As clients reluctantly sever their ties with substances, they need help managing their loss and finding healthy substitutes. Often, they need guidance in understanding and managing their emotional lives. Late‐stage treatment spends less time on substance abuse per se and turns toward identifying the treatment gains to be maintained and risks that remain. During this stage, members may focus on the issues of living, resolving guilt, reducing shame, and adopting a more introspective, relational view of

Behavioral Healthcare professionals are likely to encounter individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). These are highly prevalent and often co-occur with Mental Health Disorders. SUDs affect vital areas of life, such as physical, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Recovery from addiction is a long a road with highs and lows, however having a strong support system makes facing these challenges manageable. Addiction support groups gives the person a safe place to discuss these challenges while maintaining sobriety. They offer invaluable education, guidance, and the encouragement the patient needs to succeed in living a healthier lifestyle.

The 12 step program Alcoholics Anonymous (AA )was born in 1934. Prohibition had been repealed and a man named Bill Watson drunkenly found his way to Manhattan Hospital. Bill was known to knock back quite a bit of whiskey every day and couldn 't seem to be able to quit. While he was at Manhattan Hospital he was given a new and considered experimental treatment for addiction of belladonna, which is a hallucinogen. Bill in his induced state yelled to God to help free him of alcohol. He reported seeing a bright light and feeling such serenity that Bill quit drinking alcohol. He went on to co-found Alcoholics Anonymous and based the principles off the evangelical Oxford Group which believed people were sinners, but with the help of God and confessing, a person could get on the proper path. AA was an answer to a huge void the medical world felt at the time in regard to people who drank heavily. Once alcoholism was named a disease in 1956 by the American Medical Association (AMA) AA grew and more hospitals sprung up wards for alcoholics for patients to detox with no other treatment offered. What someone in a ward for alcholhoics did receive was members showing up to support their fellow drinker and offering support and invitations to meetings. Thus began the road to calling alcoholism a disease and the first 12 step program AA. (14)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. This association has helped many people dealing with this specific addiction to escape their problems. It was once hoped that this program would be the answer for all individuals dealing with this type of addiction. AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism (A.A. History - About A.A., 2015).

Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-respected sobriety group that has helped millions of people across the country beat alcohol addiciton. It achieves this goal through the utilization of the 12-Step process. This process utilizes 12 different aspects that are designed to help you understand your problem and to look to a higher power for help. The focus of the 12-Step process is understanding that you are no longer in control of your life and need help from a higher power.

Peer support groups like AA provide a crucial part of the foundation necessary for an extended recovery. Many former addicts may find themselves feeling alone and isolated after rehab, particularly if their history of substance abuse requires them to avoid the friends and locations they previously frequented. AA meetings not only provide a sense of belonging and community, but they also help hold members accountable to their actions and develop plans for making smarter choices in the future. The decision to maintain sobriety may not be an easy one, but it's also one that doesn't have to be faced alone.

It begins like all the other meeting. “Hi, my name is...and I am an addict.” I’ve lost count for how many first names I have come to associate with addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? Check. Narcotics Anonymous (NA)? Been there, done that. This being the first time I have ever encountered self identified sex addicts. How does this addiction differ from the addictions I have come to know and claim as my own? In a diagnosis of this particular addiction, there must be some form of cohesion. The answer lays in the biological and physiological factors that surround this addiction. These central ideas have lead to examining the conversation surrounding sex addiction and what this conversation has to say. Will a consensus exist for an addiction, that to me, seems harder to “prove” or identify as some other forms of addiction. The literature seems varied and with no central consensus seems to exists, which makes for a fascinating research topic.

Alcohol Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are examples of community-based support groups that will allow the client to develop a support network within their community. Twelve-step groups are the most commonly attended groups for continuing support in recovery and are available throughout the country. Although 12 step programs are the most popular recovery support groups there are alternative community-based groups such as religious institutes, Women for Sobriety, and Self-Management and Recovery Training (www.smartrecovery.org).

A Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory/ Behavior Theory (REBT) Psychoeducational group for adolescent abusing drugs and alcohol. The initial and transition stages will be discussed to give the reader insight on how the group will begin and transition into the norms of the group thereby allowing the work to begin. The teen group will be a group for girls and boys between the ages 14-18 and closed. The group will consist of 8-12 students lasting 12 weeks. Furthermore, group will be held on school grounds, after school, for 90 minutes twice a week. The group participants will be determined by the school counselor.

Another goal using cognitive behavior therapy in this group is to acquire he necessary coping strategies and social support techniques, which will help maintain long-term sobriety (Galanter, 1995). The process of cognitive behavior therapy will inform the group by first making sure the therapist understands each client's goal, then explaining their interventions to help each client understand how they will be able to reach their goals (Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, n.d.). In addition, at every group session, the counselor will see how each group member feels and summarizes what happened in the previous session to bridge between the sessions (Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, n.d.). Then the counselor will prioritize the agenda, next structure the sessions so each client's problems are being addressed and that skills are being taught to help deal with the problems at hand (Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy,

For this discussion, I would like to get a better understanding of group therapy and its effectiveness dealing with addiction. I have very little experience dealing with addiction and group therapy surrounding addiction. I find myself struggling with the idea group therapy works for addicts because from my experiences. I was giving the opportunity to observe a few group therapy sessions and the clients were encouraged to speak but not everyone spoke. If an addict can sit in a session and just observe and listen to other people stories how does that help them as an individual. This person can be a ACOA and is repeating the cycle for his/her past. Now they are attending this group therapy session whether it is required by law or because the family