Step One - Blogshop # 5

There is less glaze on the top of a Krispy Kreme doughnut than there is on the eyeballs of someone listening to an improperly Twelve Stepped AA trying to explain alcoholism to him. And that means an absolute inability to take step one at all.

Many people in AA aren’t even a hundred percent sure that they have actually taken Step One. I know. I was one. You too right?

I get to speak with them - folks from all over the world. They are unsure about their their sponsors. They are unsure about the Step itself and they are unsure of how to "work with others' - take someone through the steps beginning with this Step One - just as unsure as their own sponsor was with them - which is why they are in the mess they now find themselves - “UNRECOVERED” and addicted to a "fellowship of the meeting" instead of being a productive and free member of a "Fellowship of the Spirit - using God a given power to help others by carrying the "this"* to other alcoholics.

Oh, I know, they call it “still recovering” and tag on to that some humble sounding explanation that goes against everything the Big Book's AA proposes - but that it is just to serve as a less embarrassing way way of saying the same thing, is it not? Damned right. Who wants to say, "I've been coming back for years and years and I haven't done shit so I have not actually recovered like it says I would in the Big Book."

All of confusion in the Fellowship - the relapses, the lies, the intermixing and dilution of this Fellowships and the death and misery we see stems from the dumbing of the membership - not knowing how to take someone through step one, whether or no they themselves has taken step one or where step one even is in the Big Book. Have you ever heard someway say, I have to take step one every day . . . . Yada Yada”.

Well there just may go a good example of someone who does not know squat about AA, recovery or Twelve Steps and is way more dangerous to the real alcoholic in an AA meeting than a “slip under a skirt” a “slippery place” or a “not enough meetings” and would probably act appalled and bristle stiffer than the nape hairs on the neck of a sexually excited wild boar at the very suggestion that anyone actually learn how to describe that word - "ALCOHOLIC".

# We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.

They did? What is "powerless over alcohol" anyway? Is it the same as "powerless over people places and things? Hell no!

Is it "One is too many and a thousand isn't enough" Oh puhleeze! What is this --- a frakin' special-ed class?

Thank God we have the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" to teach us.

I find it best to generalize and just keep it to the way the Big Book describes alcoholism. Which is not to say to be incomplete in the description - more complete actually since there are two sides to the alcoholic coin and not merely the "pancreatic" side featuring acetone, acetic acids, sugar, carbohydrates and all the rest. When non-alcoholics or true alcoholics are made to understand that physical side alone the typical response is very often something akin to "Well then just don't drink - no matter what" ought to solve it - and of course that would be a good solution if the description of that particular persons condition ended there.

But a true alcoholics condition does not end there. There is also the mental, obsessive side - and that means that true, real alcoholics will drink - no matter what!

The key to being able to diagnose alcoholism - in ourselves and having the ability to show others how to diagnose it as well is being able to describe it as you are trying to do. Until I had gained that ability I was pretty much useless this Fellowship - coffee making, putting away chairs and launching pithy and humorous "shares" in meetings aside.

I explain it just like the Big Book does -- that alcoholism is a two-fold malady - most people have been told "three fold" and are surprised - and even disappointed and even a bit pissey to learn that "Alcoholics Anonymous" does not agree - mental and physical - characterized by (i) an obsession of the mind coupled with (ii) an abnormal reaction of the body which some term as an "allergy". Others prefer "abnormal reaction".

I know that some people call it a “three fold disease”. Some say that and some do not, and God knows perhaps there is a variety of alcoholism that spoans three 'folds'. - but in any event that idea is not proposed or supported by the AA “Big Book”.The Big Book co-authors do however say that in addition to alcoholism, alcoholics are also suffering from a second condition they term as a “spiritual malady” and that when the spiritual malady is overcome there is a consequential solving of the mental and physical aspects as well.

Ergo, the solving of the spiritual problem first is so powerful that recovery from alcoholism occurs as well. This can easily be understood by reading the book in it’s entirety but is especially apparent with such ideas as, “we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” (64:3)

A real alcoholic must have both of these conditions present simultaneously:

1) Obsession of the mind - Cannot resist taking a drink even though he/she knows once they start they will experience the abnormal reaction. This is the "mentally ill" portion mentioned on page 64 - or if your prefer - "INSANITY"

Combined with:

2) Abnormal reaction of the body - This is the physically ill portion mentioned on page 64. Once any alcohol whatever is taken into his/her system, something happens in a physical sense that is without comparable effect on the average individual - a physical phenomenon of "Craving" develops - which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop, even if he or she wants and or needs to stop.

This craving is abnormal and hence may be due to an "allergic" type reaction. It does not have to be called “allergy” - - whatever it is called is immaterial as long as acknowledgment of the physical craving is made - whatever the cause of it may be. Who gives a flying fig? Many people prefer to not use the term "allergy" since it has not yet been proven to fit the medical definition and some people real anal about stuff like this.

Others prefer to use the term "craving" instead. The word used is not important - only that the abnormal reaction of craving is acknowledged. Only alcoholics experience this reaction and it does not occur until alcohol is actually introduced into the system of the person afflicted.

The existence of only ONE of the above conditions often result in problem drinking, ie: drinking too much - too often - even to the point of damage to ones health, social position and livelihood but does not qualify as a real alcoholic.

Both conditions must be present - and only ten percent of the world's population has both of these conditions simultaneously

"If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic." (Alcoholics Anonymous", 44:1)

Since whether or not someone is a real alcoholic depends upon the existence of these two conditions simultaneously - then it is something only THEY can diagnose - because THEY are the only ones with the intimate details of their drinking history - even details which may not even be known to their closest friends and relatives.

Unfortunately this leaves the medical profession far outside of the ability to be of much help although they have been very helpful in assisting other types of "problem drinkers" overcome their difficulties. Many can moderate or stop entirely if given enough reason and assistance.

Alcoholism is distinct from "hard", "heavy" or "problem" drinking or other "addictions" including "drug addiction" in that the two components of mental, alcoholic obsession and physical allergy to ETOH (ethyl alcohol) in some form must be simultaneously present in the individual.

The obsession, a strange insanity that occurs as a "mental blank spot" immediately preceding the taking of a drink, guarantees that the person afflicted will take the drink even with the full knowledge that it will result in a craving for more (allergy) or even though he may not have intended to drink.

This is strangely supplanted for the idea that it is safe to drink despite experience that it may not be safe to drink without experiencing the phenomenon of craving (or "Allergy")

However intelligent, responsible and reasonable an alcoholic may have been in other areas of his life respects, introduce alcohol and they seem to be strangely insane. "These "Allergic" types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.

Recovery from the obsession (mental) component is possible but there is no known cure for the physical allergy portion. However breaking that one aspect is enough to sever the vicious cycle and allow sufferers to live normal lives - as long as they never put alcohol into out bodies thereby setting off the physical allergy (craving). Alcoholism is distinct from "hard", "heavy" or "problem" drinking or other "addictions" including "drug addiction" in that the two components of mental, alcoholic obsession and physical allergy to ETOH (ethyl alcohol) in some form must be simultaneously present in the individual.

Many people who abuse alcohol for entire lifetimes NEVER even become alcoholic by this description - just heavy alcohol abusers - although both lifestyles are undesirable - even deadly.

Some with a genetic predisposition start off slowly and eventually DO "cross the line". Until they do, they are what is known as "potential alcoholics" and if they continue will eventually "cross the line" and develop the physical allergy due to the overtaxing of their pancreas and livers. Once that occurs, and we know not when it does, there is no going back.

It is thought to bad a idea to proclaim any individual as alcoholic since only the individual knows their personal history well enough and so completely as to make that decision - qualify as "Alcoholic" or THOSE DESCRIPTIONS they wish to use since many other descriptions exist. Most people who use this description do so only after realizing that no other descriptions have been adequate.

So if you have been following along with these Blogshop this month then you ought to be able to tie in and see that in order to admit to being "powerless over alcohol" - just another way of saying "alcoholic' - one must know just what that means. It is in the first forty three page of the the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" where the co-founders of AA attempt to teach us just that very thing. Without that knowledge we are useless to ourselves and to others. Without it we do not see the horrible truth about the seriousness and fatality of the situation to the extreme degree necessary to take a drastic and extreme solution - like "GOD". God is just too damned drastic unless that is seen.

How do we know this? Here is how, on page forty four at the beginning of Step Two:

" In the preceding chapters you have learned something of alcoholism. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. "

Well? Have you learned something of alcoholism from the preceding forty three pages. Do you know how to tell an alcoholic from a non-alcoholic? If you have then you can apply those to yourself and answer the question for yourself -and perhaps admit it that you are powerless over alcohol. If not, then out you go to a rehab.

Next Blogshop - STEP TWO:
# Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Peace,
Danny S - RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

* 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Defects

I’m letting you in on a little secret. It shouldn’t be a secret - but it is. To let this out of the bag means that we would have expose ourselves and whether or not we are dead weights in this Fellowship or not.

How would you like to have those haunting character defects removed? You know you would! Well, I have an answer to that. Go work with another alcoholic - not just ANY work - but THE work.

I am not taking about buying a newcomer a chicken sandwich and a cup of coffee - or driving him to a meeting - or picking him up from the courthouse. That's not what the co-founder tell us to do - you lazy AA dead-weight! I mean perform your work well - the REAL work - the work described in the Chapter “Working With Others” - and do what we are supposed to be trained and have experienced ourselves in order to do - as passed on to us.

Take him through the Twelve Steps!

Look, I have my share of defects - that much I guarantee - but I know serenity. I know courage. I know what it is to have that elusive happiness, joyousness and freedom. But I have never had to tell a protogee, "Excuse me for a moment - we will get back to this step after I call my sponsor before I drink." It just never happens.

Do you know why? Because character defects have NEVER cropped up when I was taking another man through the steps. NEVER EVER! The more I am working with others in this way - the further I get away from these. It is the ONLY way I know of to be free. And it also happens to be the only real purpose of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I know - you thought it was to stop drinking. Well, "Sooprize Sooprize Sooprize Sargent Carter!"

Being a good Samaritan never has never removed my defects - only to the extent that I can be useful - never to the extent that I can claim any virtue for myself - have they ever gone away.

We even have the seventh Step Prayer that qualifies WHICH defects of character I can expect to be removed: "defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows." Get it?

The rest I can sit an suffer with - until the next sick, puking alcoholic is in front of me and we go to work. You I and both know people who can't understand why it is that they STILL have all these character defects haunting them around the clock.

The answer to them is simple: They haven't got a sick and suffering alcoholic to take through the twelve steps. Some folks NEVER do that!

They want to "do service" - they want to "not hurt anybody" - they want to "be a powerful example" - they want to “just show up” and fantasize that THAT’S how they help others - and whatever else they can do EXCEPT take another alkie through the steps. They are missing a great deal.

They still suffer with their defects too. No one told them.

Our character defects aren’t removed so we can feel good - so we can get spiritual - so we can “not drink”. PUHLEEZE! Our defects are removed to the extent that we use our new selves and free states of being for the benefit of God’s work and helping others. Get anything else out of your self-centered greedy little mind.

It’s very simple - the more we work with others - the less our character defects “Crop up” If I want less “Cropping” - then I do more working.

Are you already doing this? Beautiful! You know what it’s like to have your character defects removed - how to remain humble enough to live with the ones that crop up and you are NOT a dead weight in a Fellowship of dead-weights.

You are my AA Hero and I thank you for being on the Broad Highway with us.

Peace,

Danny S

"Drinking Problems May Not Be Strictly Behavioral"

by Daniel J. Schwarzhoff, RLRA*

There was an episode, a few years back, which gave me my first inkling that I was having a totally different experience drinking alcohol than most people I knew. I did not recognize it for what it was but I have come to know it was the result an allergy.

I know what you are thinking. When most people think of an allergy, they think of a malady, which develops when the body's immune system becomes misdirected, and attacks harmless food proteins. But this is an incomplete definition of an allergy. As a result, they may dismiss other potentially lethal substances as harmless when in fact they actually are deadly.

I was at my in-laws, for a holiday dinner, and my father in law
offered "a little wine" around the table. I agreed to some, and he
filled each glass around the table with about 1 inch of sweet red.

I watched, to make sure I wasn't the first to sip, and when I first
did, it was gone.

I cautiously waited a few minutes, so as not to seem too anxious,
and finally asked, "May I have some more wine please". The reply
was, "Oh sorry, that's all there is." It doesn't have to be the
same kind", I said. "Another red or even white will do just fine."

He said, "No that's all there was in the house."

I was thrown into shock. Into panic. Time stood still for what
seemed an eternity and within minutes I was craving a drink so
badly, I knew I just had to get out of there. The nearest saloon was only a short walk away.

I began my finagling pitch; how much work was still on my desk at
the office, how tired I was but still might have to go down to work
for an hour. It's an art form, and it takes time so as not to appear obvious. I think many readers would know what I'm talking about.

But then my wife surprised me with her decision to leave early, and I was stuck, waiting through dessert and then finally departing for home with her; trapped like a rat.

I managed to get home, still white knuckling a craving, but almost two hours had past since that inch of sweet red wine, and its grasp was loosening ever so slightly. I managed to crawl into bed, feeling slightly hung-over, exhausted and traumatized; as if I had drunk an entire bottle of hard stuff, and fell asleep. But before I did, I realized that something strange was going on with me and it occurred to me that had I been able to chain myself to a radiator, or else use every bit of my willpower as I did, these were the only ways I could possibly have made it.

All of this, with only one inch of cheap, sweet, red wine. If I'd had had a full "belt" of alcohol, I can't imagine being able to make it home with my wife that night. Apparently the small amount of alcohol contained in that tiny glass was enough to push my bodily reaction just over the edge. Would an eydropperful of vanilla extract under one eyelid do the same? Probably. If it gets into me, I'm reacting; much the same way as my sister does to strawberries or any product thereof made.

I don't think people who are not allergic to alcohol react this way to it.

When an alcohol allergic person has so much as one drop of alcohol, they experience an exaggerated or pathological reaction to the alcohol that are without comparable effect on the average individual. It is estimated that only ten to fifteen percent of the world's population are afflicted. The exaggerated or pathological reaction manifests itself as a phenomenon of craving. Craving is not a reaction which the average individual experiences when they ingest alcohol. This happens ONLY to alcohol allergic people.

Eating or drinking products containing even small amounts of alcohol, which can be found in many unsuspected products such as cookies, candies, and flavorings, triggers the reaction. Additionally, many restaurants cook using alcoholic products such as rice and grape wines, beer, brandy and bourbon and do not necessarily consider tell their patrons.

When an alcohol allergic person has so much as one drop of alcohol, they experience an exaggerated or pathological reaction to the alcohol that are without comparable effect on the average individual.

There are estimates that at least 30 million Americans suffer as I do, from alcoholic allergy. Thousands more die each year, and thousands more fail to seek treatment for their allergy to alcohol. Consequently they and mostly all those with any human relationship with them at all, suffer incalculable physical, financial and emotional harms.

In the U.S. alone, there are millions of sufferers who live in fear of alcoholic contamination with every bite they take. There are also millions off sufferers who are not aware that they are allergic to alcohol. Alcoholic allergy differs from other allergies because even a minuscule amount of alcohol can be fatal.

The only way for someone who is allergic to alcohol keep from having a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction is to completely avoid foods that contain any alcohol whatever. Unfortunately that means Alcohol-allergic consumers are forced to interpret labels for every food product they purchase, every time they shop or order from a restaurant menu, a frightening and risky process, made even more difficult by the lack of public awareness about the allergy.

Who would guess that common products like Stop & Shop chocolate chip cookies would contain Chocolate Liqueur as a major ingredient? To people like me, this is poisonous contamination. It does kill.

Now I realize there are people who abuse alcohol, and we can all sympathize with that, but that's not what I am taking about. I am talking about people, who if they take any alcohol whatever into their systems, have bodies which react in a way which 90 percent of everyone else does not; and it makes it virtually impossible for them to stop, even though they want to; even though they have to.

For 30 million Americans, alcoholism of this type is not a behavioral problem, it's a physical malady, and they are undiagnosed and untreated. American families deserve to feel confident about the safety of their food.

* Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

© Daniel J. Schwarzhoff suffers from Alcoholic Allergy and is also the founder of The Alcoholic Allergy Foundation (AAF), a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization that raises funds toward raising public awareness of alcoholic allergy. He is also a high energy and humorous speaker and seminar leader who has presented this subject in workshops, seminars and talks throughout the northeastern U.S.

Experince With Alcoholism Changes Perspectives

by Danny Schwarzhoff - RLRA*

I've observed that those who fit AA's description of the alcoholic, and subsequently exploit AAs Step Program, regularly affirm FULL REVCOVERY without so much as even the slightest temptation to ever drink. EVER!

They appear AA meeting-independent, not sponsor or Fellowship addicted, apparently achieving tangible SOBRIETY, they also call – "freedom from alcohol" - through AAs 12 steps. Not the 12 steps of treatment centers, rehabs, or other fellowships; but the 12 Steps of AA, prescribed in 164 pages of the textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous.

Conversely, there are those who DON'T fit AAs description (Not alcoholics of AAs "type") yet through alcohol abuse have been beat up pretty badly by it. These recognize they are NOT recovered from their drunken behavioral problems, consequently they refer tothemselves as "still recovering".

These promote abstinence, NOT through AAs Program, instead through AA's Fellowship, dutiful meeting attendance, sloganizing, making coffee and other methods NOT prescribed in AAs Program as the treatment for alcoholism.

In clinging to AAs Fellowship by frequent meeting attendance, they do appear quite "meeting dependent" as opposed to the "recovered alcoholic's" reliance upon "freedom from alcohol." There is an almost "cultish" quality to these non-alcoholic AA's for whom this alternate solution is feasible. This class of AA doesn't sound particularly free to me. Do they to you?

When most of us think of an allergy, we think of a malady, developing when the body's immune system becomes misdirected, attacking harmless food proteins. Within this narrow definition, an allergic reaction seems solely an immune system response to substances perceived by the body as a harmful allergen.

What many folks overlook is that THIS definition is NOT the SOLE definition of allergy and thus his handicapped understanding about allergies runs risk of dismissing OTHER potentially lethal substances as being harmless, when in fact they are deadly; substances like alcohol.

To Wit - Merriam-Webster's definition of allergy:

1) "altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure."

This is a definition my opponent would have us embrace, looking no further. However if we go on reading Merriam-Webster:

2) exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual.

We can't very well consider the ENTIRE definition if we seek to concoct a fallacy, now can we?

When I, myself alcohol allergic, ingest so much as even a miniscule amount of alcohol, I experience an exaggerated or pathological reaction to the alcohol that is without comparable effect on the average individual. This is definition 2.

My exaggerated, pathological reaction manifests as an experience of craving. Craving isn't a reaction experienced by the average individual when THEY ingest alcohol and happens ONLY to allergic people such as myself. Estimates I've encountered, assert this allergy is attributable to less than 15% of the world population.

For this reason, there's an Alcoholic Allergy Foundation, a non-profit organization, with which I am involved, endeavoring to raise public awareness of alcoholic allergy, since death due to ALL allergies combined overwhelmingly due to alcohol and comprise the largest percentage of humanity affected.

I was once attending a holiday dinner with family. My father-in-law offered "a little wine" around the table, as he filled each glass with about 1 inch of sweet red.

When first I sipped, the glass was empty.

"May I have some more please". He said, "Sorry, there's no more" I thought, " Good, I should only have little anyway."

Within minutes I was craving alcohol so intensley, I knew I just had to leave. When my wife decided we might depart early, and I was stuck, through panicked dessert, finally departing for home, trapped like a sick rat.

I managed to get home with her, still white knuckling the crave, but two hours had past since that inch of sweet red, and since its grasp was loosening ever so slightly, I managed to crawl into bed, hung-over, exhausted and traumatized; as though I'd drunk an entire bottle. I fell asleep.

Apparently that minuscule amount of alcohol, which NEVER would I have consumed had I preconceived that my body would respond this way, contained just as much alcohol necessary to set in motion a bodily reaction (hypersensitivity) of a craving sensation (abnormal reaction) that was barely endured.

What may have been still a "Theory" of alcoholic allergy back in Silkworth's day, for me in my real life experience is today a reality. Any real alcoholic, will understand.

Others...how could they? They haven't experienced it themselves.

Peace,

Danny S

* Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

Is AA For Me?

by Danny Schwarzhoff - RLRA*

Unless I fit AAs "Description of the alcoholic", then AAs program of recovery is not for me. Not by design. If I go there, on my own, or by direction of an ignorant "expert", expecting asolution, they and I will be seriously disappointed.

Oh, I may "drink too much". Yes, that IS a problem. I may drink too often. I may have wrecked my health, my career and nearly died from drinking; problematic as well. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I fit AAs "Description of the alcoholic" or what AA also calls
a "real alcoholic". According to AA, my understanding is that without the aforementioned "obsession" and "allergy" BOTH, even though I may have a "problem" with alcohol, then AAs Program is NOT for me.

AAs book clearly conveys all I have just stated unerringly in these terms; terms which many people either reject or find restrictive. I've observed people, who although are unable or unwilling to qualify themselves under AAs "description of the alcoholic", still for some unknown reason wish to share in one of AAs OTHER features separately from its Program: The Fellowship of AA.

Here they find friends, camaraderie and support for whatever ails them, even if not alcoholism, often classic problems of living, even if only heavy, problematic drinking, or abusive use of alcohol. Some of them even come to AA with problems for which AA clearly states it has no solution, such as drug addiction, bi-polar disorders etc. The hot torch of the court system, an unhappy home life, an angry spouse or threatening boss, can often force those who abuse alcohol to inappropriately seek relief in AAs Fellowship; no insurance needed
and it gives a dammed good impression. Sometimes this will even get back into "The Big Bed", if you know what I mean.

The result is that a good number of folks who may be alcohol abusers and even abusers of substances other than alcohol, NOT fitting AAs "description of the alcoholic" are in AA Fellowship gatherings, called meetings, and are staying away from alcohol WITHOUT utilizing
AAs Program of recovery. And somehow they have come to think that since THEY can do it without AAs Program solely by attending meetings, that EVERYONE should be able to do it, even "real alcoholics" for whom the actual Program is designed.

These "AAs" poo poo the idea that AAs 12 steps or Program, is needed for a good life without abusing alcohol. And they a right! For them, simply not drinking works! In fact it would have worked, whether they went to AA or NOT! And their numbers grow, and continue to
grow, amongst AAs meeting attendees.

Consequently, now there are two types of people with alcohol problems in AA meetings. Those who fit AAs description and must utilize the Program in order to recover, and those who do not NEED to recover because no one CAN recover from a condition they haven't
got!

If they haven't got AAs type of alcoholism, they must find another way to solve the problem the DO have. Maybe they were just misbehaving fools, who drank too often and too much, enough to make life miserable, unhealthy and become a danger to themselves and
others. Perhaps counseling would be valuable. Although their pains are real and horrific, AAs solution proves just too drastic a set of measures to take, for they have not suffered physically and mentally the extreme sufferings of the "real alcoholic".

Their problems can be severe alright; so severe as to need some type of help. Just maybe not AAs help.

Peace,

Danny S

* Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

My Drug Of Choice?

Is ETOH (Ethyl Alcohol) your drug of choice?

You had a choice? That’s a pretty controversial statement. I don’t mind personally – but some real alcoholics get offended by that stuff. Just giving you a heads up. “The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink.” (24:2)

"I see no way of making nonalcoholic addicts into AA Members. Experience says loudly that we can admit no exceptions, even though drug users and alcoholics happen to be first cousins of a sort.

If we persist in trying this, I'm afraid it will be hard on the drug user himself, as well as on AA.

We must accept the fact that no nonalcoholic, whatever his affliction, can be converted into an alcoholic AA member." Bill W. - Language of the Heart, page 223.

"A drug is a drug is a drug" somehow reminds me of a person being allergic to fish and going for a peanut allergy treatment– after all “A food is a food is a food”.

There are chemicals compounds in carrots too. Does that mean carrots are drugs too?

The whole world is made of chemicals. In fact I wrote the Monsanto (For Monsanto's Marketing Agency) trade ad slogan back in the late 70's; "Without Chemical - Life Itself Would Be Impossible." But using that concept as a loophole for a Fellowship which is exclusive – for alcoholics only is dangerous.

Maybe its time to hear what Bill had to say on the subject – above.

Sorry NA cousins. I love you guys! I really do. I SWEAR I REALLY DO. But you are wrong.

Alcohol is NOT a drug, PERIOD! And drugs are NOT ALCOHOL - and we alcoholics cannot afford to be confused about this.

Allow me to explain it in a perspective which perhaps you have never before considered - but I have:

Alcohol is FOOD.

Food: 1. Material, usually of plant or animal origin, that contains or consists of essential body nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals, and is ingested and assimilated by an organism to produce energy, stimulate growth, and maintain life.

Now, here is something which may surprise you: Alcohol IS a CARBOHYDRATE. That's right; the body recognizes and metabolizes ETOH as the food it is - deriving energy from it through caloric conversion. Alcohol has tons of calories – most people know THAT! And that means energy for the body – FOOD - about as nutritious as a Ring-Ding – but just as damned fattening. (And about as "stimulating" to some, I understand)

These are not Dannyisms or Thumperisms or AA Nazi-speak – this is scientific fact.

Peace,

Danny S

There Are "Real Alcoholics"

by Danny Schwarzhoff - RLRA*

Alcohol abusers fitting AAs description of the alcoholic, possessing obsession AND allergy are classified in AAs book, for AA's purposes, as "Real alcoholics", "Alcoholics of our type" and those of the "Hopeless variety". AAs Program is designed EXCLUSIVELY for THIS classification of drinker.

Alcohol abusers NOT fitting AAs description - who for some other reason - have CHOSEN to drink problematically, yet have the ability to stop, using the POWER they already possess are referred to as non-alcoholics by AAs co-authors.

BOTH those passing and those failing this litmus test presently comprise AAs "membership" and these appear as a de facto sub-culture within AA separating itself from AAs real alcoholics.

This "subclass" of non-alcoholic AA "members" promulgate NOT AA's Program of recovery, but its' own alternative recovery methods of subtle mind control techniques like sloganism, guilt, and distractive technique like "over-Fellowshipping".

Non-AA "cultish" methods, like "Just don't drink and go to meetings" become offensive to anyone insightful. It repels some OUT of AA to alternative treatments, ultimately "unhooking" them from a fellowship, for which they never qualified as members anyway, yet
now they are dry and able to seek alternatives. This is good.

These ex-AAs are angry at AAs who mislead and attempted to coerce them into staying. Who can blame them?

Haven't they themselves failed to investigate AAs Program outlined in AA's Book. Haven't they been gullible in accepting direction from people who don't even practice AAs published Program of recovery?

Wasn't it THEY who failed to make the distinction between AAs Fellowship, and AAs published Program?

In this, they are themselves at fault.

Alternatively some of these non-alcoholics (i) remain IN the AA Fellowship, embracing others who, like them, do not need AAs Program to solve their drinking problem, yet bizarrely blend into a "meeting dependant" prison. Or (ii) allow themselves to be, in effect, self-"jettisoned" through their own sensibilities, fueled by the lame Fellowshipping of those unwitting, "Cultish", non-alcoholic AAs themselves. This frees them to find appropriate help. Ergo, they HAVE BEEN unwittingly HELPED, even they do sometimes fall prey to the charlatan Anti-AA cult leaders like the Trimpeys, Peeles et al.

For the non-alcoholic, learning that one can STOP without changing their very being is a valuable lesson, for NO ONE has EVER recovered from ANYTHING they didn't have in the first place.

Combine millions of the real alcoholics AA has helped over 70 years with those form whom AA has NO SOLUTION, and are forced OUT of a program useless to them anyway, and we see that Alcoholics Anonymous has done more good than harm. And that harms upon others has been brought on not by AA, but by those themselves claiming harm.

Peace,

Danny S

* Real Live Recovered Alcoholic