Well, Yeah Dood, This Time You Did Offend Me
February 1, 2009 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
And help others recover from alcoholism…
“Drugs are a part of my story. Sorry if I offend anyone but I have to talk about them. I’m an alcoholic because that’s what I picked up first and that’s what I picked up last. Everything in between was an ‘accelerant.’”
NO! That’s not why you’re an alcoholic dammit! You’re an alcoholic if you’ve lost the power of choice when it comes to drinking alcohol!
Add to that – if your drug of choice was powdered cocaine AA is NOT the place for you! If I were a grateful member of Narcotics Anonymous this stuff would truly irritate me… Why is NA being treated like it is? I’m just now beginning to wonder how many addicts are hiding in AA because they’d have to get honest in NA. Then they’d have to go to work for real on the Twelve Steps.
BTW – I’m also sure that Hickey House is a fine organization as is the founder. Personally I thank God outfits like them do some of the “front line” work against alcoholism. But if you’re telling your story from the podium of a meeting in Alcoholics Anonymous could you at least attempt to mention AA at some point in your story?
Okay friends, the rant is coming to a close 
There is one thing left though. If you’re next in line to that same podium why, oh why, do you stand up there and tell this misguided young person that they just carried a wonderful message? Have any of you considered that a real alcoholic newcomer might have been sitting in this room this evening and left with a totally inappropriate understanding (if there was any understanding) of AA? I heard nothing about staying away from the first drink. What did that newcomer hear?
I get your point, but…
I know my home group (a step meeting) gets many newbies from a men’s sober house and the minority are drug addicts (only), but they come to this meeting for many reasons, its a popular meeting in the area, convenience etc… I know some of the old timers tried to have them banned, saying alcoholics only, but they were voted against so the drug addicts still come to the meeting.
Personally do I care, no, not really because when we discuss our Step of the week we don’t really discuss how much we drank, drugged etc. it’s on how we apply the steps in our life. I would also hate to think I would turn someone away who was willing to get some help.
AA is for alcoholics and in an ideal world (there would be no alcoholics) the alcoholics would go to one place, the food addicts to another (many OA’s go to AA meetings too) and the drug addicts to another but again, who am I to judge, as long as someone is willing to get help, we might be showing them that meetings are good and maybe they will start attending NA/OA etc. meetings.
As for sharing at the podium, I think that’s something that should be discussed at the group conscious meeting, shouldn’t those that are booking so and so to speak know this persons story beforehand? There’s a responsibility that’s not being taken seriously if that’s what’s happening?
Hey Robyn… I’m certainly not trying to get anyone banned, that’s not what I’m about.
To me, applying the Steps in my life all returns to the fact that I do not want to drink again. I will do whatever it takes. I know how I drank. I know I am not alone. Its that same person as me I want to attract and keep here so they can find what I’ve been given.
I think it really boils down to your last paragraph. You’re right. We’re not doing enough to make sure what goes on at the podium is what will bring a newcomer back. IMHO we’re doing more to glorify something I don’t want to understand again – the glory of man and his so-called brilliance. Drug stories sound scary and recovery from drugs is cool (really!) yet we have a singleness of purpose that the oldtimers implored us to respect and for good reason.
I think we try so hard to have a message for everyone and democratically don’t want to discriminate – when you and I both know that is just absolutely crazy. When we water down our message for addicts and food addicts and gamblers, we no longer have a message. If all those people would go to the fellowship where they belong, they might actually HAVE a fellowship there.
You’re right on all accounts Mark.
After reading your reply I found a link (you also link to them) http://www.aaprimarypurpose.org/SinglePurpose.htm and once I read this page I understood what you were saying and I realize my unwillingness to perhaps suggest NA to those who suffer from drug addiction (only) might not only be doing them harm but also harm to the alcoholic newcomer who needs to hear someone talk about their struggle with alcohol.
Thanks for this post, you’ve helped me more than you know.
That is a fine writing and I couldn’t hope to explain it better than that. Thanks for reminding us of the link. I would suggest all who read these comments take a look.