Programs that will help you stay on the wagon

ln the current hit film, Neil Simon’s Only Do not expect anyone to rush toward you When I Laugh, actress Marsha Mason portrays with a membership application – there are none an alcoholic who spends her life’s savings for a to fill out – and chances are that at a meeting in 12-week “cure” at a sanitarium – and falls off the a large metropolitan area, few A’A. members will wagon once she returns to the real world of even glance your way. At an “open” meeting, catLer, motherhood, and friends who drink even which can be attended by alcoholics and as they try to keep her from doing so’ lf you nonalcoholics alike, a volunteer “leader” will know someone addicted to alcohol, or are begin by saying something like, “Hello, l’m Ro-bert, and I’m an alcoholic.” He may then among the 10% of all social drinkers who regula-rly become dependent on what counselors introduce one or two A.A. members who will co-nsiOer a mood-altering drug, don’t think that a discuss their own drinking experiences and hospital stay alone provides a permanent relate what sobriety has meant to them’ Afterwards, others may note their similar or solution. “Aftercare is every bit as important as the in-patient treatment,” says Richard W’ dissimilar exPeriences. Easterly, executive director of the Chit Chat “The objective,” says a corporate Foundation, which has a rehabilitation program executive who joined A.A. two years ago, “is to for alcoholics in Wernersville, Pa. help alcoholics continually remind themselves While treatment as an in- patient can be thai tney have a disease that makes them expensive – the Chit Chat program costs roughly different from many other people. And yet you see that you are like millions of others: so there $3,OOO for 28 days of intensive therapy and behavior modification sessions – you can expect is no need to drink because you are alone'” to pay nothing for aftercare to keep you sober’ lt No A.A. group member can teach You is provided by Alcoholics Anonymous, the 45- how to “control” your drinking, so that you can year old “fellowship of men and women” with a have a few beers on Sunday or a glass of wine record of success in helping addicts refrain from at lunch. lnstead, you will learn that others – with drinking. lt collects no fees, charges no dues, problems and pressures and a need for and keeps no membership rolls admitting – relaxation every bit as great as yours – manage anyone who simply has a desire to stop drinking’ to avoid taking the first drink in any 24- hour period. Unlike- other groups that employ the i’shared experience” methods to help people cut Your first visit to an A.A’ meeting will probably surprise you. Anonymity begins outside down on cigarettes, food, or whatever, A’A’ aims inu *”-“ting’ place, usually with a small sign to help you completely eliminate alcohol from bearing an innocuous name -such as your life on a daY-to-daY basis. – “Discuision Group” and no reference to A’A’ How quickly or slowly you manage to reach a provided with a contact continuous itate of sobriety depends entirely on Whether you have been by a theiapist or hospital, !rge9 to attend a you. There are no firm rules on how many meetings you must attend. Some individuals find meeting by an employer or family member’ or that the more people met who have the same realized that your ability to function effectively at you problem and the more tales heard about home or work is being impaired by alcohol, will be free to use your full name, nickname, or a members’ experiences, the more their own in offices’ decision to steer clear of alcohol is reinforced’ factious name. Because groups meet schools, churches, lodges, and private homes’ So it is not uncommon for a new member to your chances of encountering Skid Row types attend 90 meetings in as manY daYs’ You can seek anY member – someone ,r” non”*istent if you drop in on one inpeople your whose sobriety you respect – to become your neighbourhood or near your office’^The “sponsor” and-be available to talk with you by aro”unO you will include your peers’.Onethird are teenagers’ phone or in person on a daily basis if need be’ likely to be female, and a few may be And you can change sponsors or have more

than one at any time if that makes you feel more restaurants for years. lt seems strange to have comfortable. to keep my sobrietY secret.” Be prepared for laughs at meetings, too’ For pamphlets on A.A. and information One member, momentarily fretting that his on meetings in your area, write General Service mother had told a neighbour that her son had Office of A.A., P.O. Box 459, Grand Central joined A.A., says: “l wasn’t embarrassed to be Station, New York 10163. Or check your local publicly drunk and get thrown out of fine phone book under Alcoholics Anonymous.

Source: BUS/NESS WEEK:October 26, 1981.