Treating the addictions

Treating the Addictions: Self-Reflections on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Treating the Addictions: Self-Reflections on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings Introduction I attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings to start to get more familiar with alcohol addiction as well as starting the 12 step program to recovery. Being interested in the intricacies of treatment for addiction, I wanted to watch the way 12 steps came into play, the dynamics of the group, and hear the stories of addicts trying to achieve sobriety. This initiative was important because mitigating alcohol addiction could be a monumental milestone in healthcare. Superficially, it is notable that 10.2% of people in the US aged 12 years or older had AUD (American Addiction Centers, 2024). Also Worth noting is the fact that approximately 178,307 people in the US died because of excessive consumption of alcohol in 2023 alone (American Addiction Centers, 2024). The above data show how alcohol remains one of the most lethal preventable causes of death in the US presently. As such, I wanted to gain a more thorough understanding of the emotional and psychological sides of recovery: realizing this allowed me to think back on how this might transform the manner in which I approach professional inputs into the matter and also the way in which I relate to other people concerning alcohol addiction. Overview of the Meetings I attended two AA meetings with significant structural variations to merit my demands of understanding the challenges insightfully. As one of the meetings was more formal with a format, other was less formal. The community center provided for a first meeting which encouraged a warm and welcoming environment. The meeting was open for non-alcoholics to watch, and there was a guest speaker who discussed their road to sobriety. About 25 people attended, a selection of them were men or women, and they had ranges in age and background. Superficially, the attendance in the first group meeting was a reflection of the national data on alcohol addiction in which people of all age groups, genders, and cultural backgrounds are represented. Overall, majority of the attendees (approximately 70%) were men followed by women at about 30%. The second group was online and a smaller group. Fewer than ten participated, giving this format a sense of intimacy. This was a discussion-oriented meeting, not the like first one I was at, and the attendees brought up their struggles and achievements on being on their recovery journey. The physicality of separation on an online platform did not seem to hold the participants from feeling connected and supporting one another. It was striking how different the two meetings were. This meant the visibility of solidarity: more hugs, handshakes, and that sense of community being tangible again. On the flip side, communication in the virtual meeting was based purely around verbal communication and active listening, demonstrating how technology can actually help accessibility gaps. Key Observations The group dynamics were one of the profound things about the meetings. The success of such groups depend on how deeply all the members can trust one another. As such, what stood out was the members' openness and vulnerability. During both sessions, participants shared deeply personal stories of their battles with alcohol and recurring themes of guilt, shame, and putting relationships back together. It appeared this honesty created a safe pl...