May 1990 1 who have experienced traumatic, life- and suicidal. ~hreatening events and who need Occasionally, because of this acute professional help and, sometimes, depression and the haunting thoughts medication. of suicide, more supportive measures On several occasions I have had cli- are required. In these cases, even ents who were extremely suicidal and therapy and AA is not enough; medihad sought professional help. Re- cation may also be required. The temcently, two clients threatened suicide, porary use of medication, coupled and because AA members thought with therapy and AA, is sometimes a

by Patricia Beirne they knew more than the medical and needed to help prevent suicide and to Alcoholism Counselor psychological professions, the indi- facilitate recovery. Aurora, Colorado viduals almost died. Antidepressants As a counselor, I must admit that I had been prescribed to help eliminate feel anger toward AA members who I have a high re- alcoholics and their families, I am the suicidal ideations and acute de- practice medicine and psychotherapy gard and respect also aware of unnecessary human pression, yet AA members stepped in without benefit of training and licensfor AA’s Twelve pain and suffering among recover- and convinced my clients to discon- ing. AA members may have good in- Step program and ing members. tinue use of the medication. Using the tentions but they can also cause more have witnessed Often I have heard AA members argument often heard at AA m’eet- pain than they know. Members often countless success who think they know best for allalco- ings, they said, “You are breaking advise vulnerable, emotionally constories. AA has saved many alcohol- holics and perceive that if you just your sobriety if you continue using fused people not to seek medical and ics’ lives through support and shar- “work the program” everything.will the drugs.” . mental health assistance, and to take ing. As a counselor who has worked be fine. That is not always the case. The two suicidal individuals of no drugs. These advice givers often in the front lines for ten years, with There are members in your program whom I speak had been sexually don’t realize that removal of tightly abused as children by three or more monitored medication may be endanmembers of their families and had gering a life. experienced other abuses as well. As an experienced counselor, I Both were emotionally and psycho- know I have more background in logically fragile. treating emotional problems of this Those individuals chose to drink to magnitude than do most AA memcope with reality and life, and to bers, and I resent interference in a numb the pain of their youth. Both recovery process members know realized that alcohol was a problem nothing about. I have had many hunand joined ‘AA to achieve sobriety. dreds of hours of hard work sabo- Unfortunately, they had not dealt taged, due to an oversimplified attiwith the ghosts of the past. Trying tude of “If you take pills, you’re to cope with these feelings and to eating your booze.” confront them is often terrifying. It It is time AA members realize that requires all the resources a person alcohol may be only one problem and ‘ can muster to resolve and come to once the alcoholic is in recovery, terms with the ghosts. Incest survi- other life threatening issues may survors often become acutely depressed face. I suggest that each AA member

read in the Big Book where it ad- recover not only from akoholism but dresses the issues of obtaining outside other life threatening problems. Please professional help when it is necessary. stop telling other recovering AA I do not like to be placed in a posi- members not to consult physicians tion where people want to die and it’s and psychotherapists. Please stop up to me to try and protect them from telling members that they are “breakself-harm. I am the person in the ing sobriety” by taking needed meditrenches, passionately dedicated to cation. Please stop enabling members saving lives and helping all people to attempt suicide.