Alcoholics Anonymous Ireland

Description

Provides ongoing, no charge, effective support for those suffering from alcoholism and problem drinking. The fellowship is inclusive and particularly so of older people needing help.
Its peer organisation, Al-anon, does similar for those effected by problem drinking of others.
We have never seen it given official honour here and next year it will be 90 years in existence.
Perhaps the time is now.

Aim of Initiative

To freely provide peer-support to all those having a desire to stop drinking

A.A. PREAMBLE©
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their
experience, strength and hope with each other that they may
solve their common problem and help others to recover from
alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are selfsupporting
through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with
any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does
not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor
opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and
help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Copyright © The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Reprinted with permission

Who is it aimed at

All those with a desire to stop drinking.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Public awareness of its work and success. There is some but not very structured.
   Older people can be more protective of their drinking and more creative interventions would help enormously.
2. Health and justice professionals awareness of its work. Some appear to have a bias, often because the fellowship is autonomous and they don’t have control over it,
3. As the fellowship has operated on the premise of attraction rather than promotion, good promotion by other key organisations would be of great help. General and widespread society positive affirmation of non-drinkers would also help.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Big alcohol commercial activity. In fact, in the region of 60% of older drinkers could be termed as periodical problem drinkers. The more there are, the higher the profits.
2. Consumer denial. The insidious nature of an addictive drug is that it convinces those with problems that they don’t have a problem. Alcohol is a prime example of this insidiousness.
3. Societal attitude. At Alcohol Response we suggest cost effective, simple actions which could effectively challenge current narratives.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. More people are aware. More get help. Much healthier older age population both mentally and physically.
2. It becomes a social as well as a health enhancing experience.
   They are in most parishes throughout the country.
3. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/alcoholics-anonymous-most-effective-path-to-alcohol-abstinence.html

   After evaluating 35 studies — involving the work of 145 scientists and the outcomes of 10,080 participants — Keith Humphreys, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and his fellow investigators determined that AA was nearly always found to be more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence. In addition, most studies showed that AA participation lowered health care costs.

   AA works because it’s based on social interaction, Humphreys said, noting that members give one another emotional support as well as practical tips to refrain from drinking. “If you want to change your behavior, find some other people who are trying to make the same change,” he said.