Living sober (16 page)

As you stay sober, you are sure to think of new ideas not recorded here. We hope so. We also hope that when you do come up with fresh ideas on this subject, you will pass them on. Please do share.

(You'll recall that the act of sharing can itself be helpful to you.) The more experience we can all pool, the more problem drinkers can be helped.

Some of us go back to drinking a time or so before we get a real foothold on sobriety. If that happens to you, don't despair. Many of us have done this and have finally come through to successful sobriety. Try to remember that alcoholism is an extremely serious human condition, and that relapses are as possible in this ailment as in others. Recovery can still follow.

Even after setbacks, if you continue to want to get well, and remain willing to try new approaches, our experience convinces us that you have embarked with hundreds of thousands of companions on the path of a happy, healthy destiny. We hope we see you among us in person.

But whatever track you travel, along with us or on your own, you go with our strongest good wishes.

Appendix*

A report from a group of physicians in A.A.

Because this subject is one which goes deeply into the field of medicine, a group of physicians who are members of AA was asked to help prepare this material.

The experience of some A.A. members reveals that drug misuse can threaten the achievement and maintenance of sobriety.

Yet some A.A. members must take prescribed medication in order to treat certain serious medical problems.

Experience has shown that this problem can be minimized if the following suggestions are carefully heeded:

1 Remember that as a recovering alcoholic your automatic response.

e

will be to turn to chemical relief for uncomfortable feelings and to take more than the usual, prescribed amount. Look for non‐chemical solutions for the aches and discomforts of everyday living.

2 Remember that the best safeguard against drug‐related relapse is an active participation in the AA program of recovery.

3 No AA member plays doctor.

4 Be completely honest with yourself and your physician regarding use of medication.

5 If in doubt, consult a physician with demonstrated experience in the treatment of alcoholism.

6 Be frank about your alcoholism with any physician or dentist you consult Such confidence will be respected and is most helpful to the doctor.

7 Inform the physician at once if you experience side effects from prescribed drugs.

8 Consider consulting another doctor if a personal physician refuses or fails to recognize the peculiar susceptibility of alcoholics to sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.

9 Give your doctor copies of this pamphlet [The AA Member— Medications and Other Drugs].

However, some alcoholics require medication.

At the same time that we recognize this dangerous tendency to read‐diction, we also recognize that alcoholics are
not immune
to other diseases. Some of us have had to cope with depressions that can be suicidal; schizophrenia that sometimes requires hospitalization; manic depression; and other mental and biological illnesses. Also among us are epileptics, members with heart trouble, cancer, allergies, hyper-tension, and many other serious physical conditions.

Because of the difficulties that many alcoholics have with drugs, some members have taken the position that no one in AA should take any medication. While this position has undoubtedly prevented relapses for some, it has meant disaster for others.

AA. members and many of their physicians have described situations in which depressed patients have been told by AAs to throw away the pills, only to have depression return with all its difficulties, sometimes resulting in suicide. We have heard, too, from schizophrenics, manic depressives, epileptics, and others requiring medication that well‐meaning AA friends often discourage them from taking prescribed medication. Unfortunately, by following a laymanʹs advice, the sufferers find that their conditions can return with all their previous intensity. On top of that, they feel guilty because they are convinced that ʺAA is against pills.ʺ

It becomes clear that just as it is wrong to enable or support any alcoholic to become re‐addicted to any drug, itʹs equally wrong to deprive any alcoholic of medication which can alleviate or control other disabling physical and/or emotional problems.

* From the Conference‐approved pamphlet ʺThe AA Member—Medications and Other Drugs.ʺ

PAMPHLETS

44 QUESTIONS

AA TRADITION—HOW IT DEVELOPED MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY ASK ABOUT A. A. THREE TALKS TO

MEDICAL SOCIETIES BY BILL W. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AS A RESOURCE FORTHE HEALTH CARE

PROFESSIONAL AA IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS AA. FOR YOU? IS AA FOR ME? THIS IS AA IS THERE AN ALCOHOLIC IN THE WORKPLACE? DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DIFFERENT?

A A FOR THE BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN ALCOHOLIC

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SPONSORSHIP

AA FOR THE WOMAN

A A FOR THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN

AA AND THE GAY/LESBIAN ALCOHOLIC

A A FOR THE OLDER ALCOHOLIC—NEVER TOO LATE

THE JACK ALEXANDER ARTICLE

YOUNG PEOPLE AND A A

AA AND THE ARMED SERVICES

THE AA MEMBER—MEDICATIONS AND OTHER DRUGS

IS THERE AN ALCOHOLIC IN YOUR LIFE?

INSIDE A.A.

THE AA GROUP

G.S.R.

MEMO TO AN INMATE

THE TWELVE CONCEPTS ILLUSTRATED

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ILLUSTRATED

LETS BE FRIENDLY WITH OUR FRIENDS

HOW AA MEMBERS COOPERATE

AA IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

A MESSAGE TO CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS

AA IN TREATMENT FACILITIES

BRIDGING THE GAP

IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL

A A MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

A MEMBER'S-EYE VIEW OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

PROBLEMS OTHER THAN ALCOHOL

UNDERSTANDING ANONYMITY

THE CO-FOUNDERS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

SPEAKING AT NON-AA MEETINGS

A BRIEF GUIDE TO AA

A NEWCOMER ASKS

WHAT HAPPENED TO JOE; IT HAPPENED TO ALICE

(Two full-color, comic book style pamphlets)
TOO YOUNG?
(A cartoon pamphlet for teenagers)
IT SURE BEATS

SITTING IN A CELL

(An Illustrated pamphlet for inmates)

Complete order forms from A.A. General Service Office: Box 459, Grand Central Station, New
York
NY 1016

All A.A. pamphlets are downloadable in Adobe PDF format from
www.aa.org
,
www.digitalrecovery.org/pamphlets.html
,, or on BitTorrent:
www.digitalrecovery.org/AA_pamphlets.torrent