Noah Vinter
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it encompasses conditions such as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcoholism. Treatment for AUD aims to reduce self-destructive behaviors and promote positive peer pressure, provide structure, teach coping skills, and allow for a new beginning. While there are various treatment options available, this paragraph will focus on the statement that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the grandfather of successful alcohol treatment. AA is a self-help organization founded in 1935 that revolutionized the way professionals thought about alcohol use disorder and treatment. They developed a successful 12-step program combining self-help with a spiritual foundation, based on the fellowship of recovering alcoholics.
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What You'll Learn
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help organisation founded in 1935
- AA's 12-step programme combines self-help with a spiritual foundation
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by impaired ability to stop drinking
- AUD can be mild, moderate or severe
- AUD treatment includes behavioural therapies, mutual-support groups and/or medication
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help organisation founded in 1935
The organisation's roots can be traced back to a meeting between Wilson and Smith in Akron, Ohio, in 1935. Wilson had previously joined The Oxford Group, a mostly non-alcoholic fellowship that emphasised universal spiritual values in daily living. Under the influence of this group, and with the help of a friend, Wilson achieved sobriety. However, he struggled to help other alcoholics recover until he met Smith.
After Wilson and Smith met, they began working with alcoholics at Akron City Hospital. One patient quickly achieved sobriety, and these three men formed the foundation of what would become AA. In 1939, the group published Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, colloquially known as the "Big Book". This book introduced the Twelve-Step Program, which combines self-help with a spiritual foundation. The Twelve Steps outline a suggested program of ongoing drug rehabilitation and self-improvement, with a key component being the alignment with a personally defined concept of a "God as we understood Him".
AA meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions. While certain meetings cater to specific demographic groups, attendance is generally open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking alcohol. Inclusivity is a core principle, and meetings are held in various languages. The organisation is self-supporting through member donations and literature sales and does not accept external funding or contributions.
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AA's 12-step programme combines self-help with a spiritual foundation
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self-help organisation founded in 1935 that revolutionised the way professionals thought about alcohol use disorder and treatment. AA's 12-step programme combines self-help with a spiritual foundation and is based on the fellowship of recovering alcoholics.
The 12-step programme has been adapted to address a wide range of alcoholism, substance abuse, and dependency problems. Over 200 mutual aid organisations, often known as fellowships, with a worldwide membership of millions, have adopted and adapted AA's 12 steps and 12 traditions for recovery. The basic premise of the 12-step model is that people can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from the substances to which they are addicted. They can do this by sharing their experiences and supporting each other through meetings. AA encourages members to secure a relationship with a sponsor who has more experience in recovery and can guide them through the programme's 12 steps.
The 12 steps are intended to replace self-centredness with a growing moral consciousness and a willingness for self-sacrifice and unselfish constructive action. This process is known as a spiritual awakening. The spiritual foundation of AA is anonymity, reminding members to place principles before personalities. The problems that groups deal with are understood to manifest themselves in three dimensions: physical, mental, and spiritual.
The 12 steps came from a spiritual, Christian inspiration that sought help from a greater power as well as from peers with the same addiction struggles. In the original wording of the third step, members are asked to make "a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him". However, some groups have modified the steps to accommodate non-theistic beliefs, with some referring to a higher power instead of God.
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Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by impaired ability to stop drinking
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop drinking alcohol. AUD encompasses conditions that are commonly referred to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. AUD is considered a brain disorder, and can range from mild to severe.
Lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse perpetuate AUD and make individuals vulnerable to relapse. A person's risk of developing AUD depends on how much, how often, and how quickly they consume alcohol. Research has shown that among people aged 26 and older, those who began drinking before the age of 15 were more likely to report having AUD in the past year compared to those who waited until the age of 21 or later. The risk is higher for females in this group. Genetics and family history also play a role, with hereditability accounting for approximately 60%. Mental health conditions and a history of trauma are also associated with an increased risk of AUD.
There are several evidence-based treatment approaches available for AUD. Treatment can be outpatient and/or inpatient and can be provided by specialty programs, therapists, and healthcare providers. Behavioural treatments, also known as alcohol counselling or talk therapy, are aimed at changing drinking behaviour. Examples include brief interventions, reinforcement approaches, treatments that build motivation and teach skills for coping, and mindfulness-based therapies. Mutual-support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. These groups can be especially helpful for individuals at risk of returning to drinking, as they can offer an added layer of support when combined with medications and behavioural treatment.
Medications can also help people with AUD, with three medications currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help people stop or reduce their drinking and prevent a return to drinking: naltrexone (oral and long-acting injectable), acamprosate, and disulfiram. It is important to note that people with severe AUD may need medical help to avoid alcohol withdrawal if they decide to stop drinking, as it can be a potentially life-threatening process.
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AUD can be mild, moderate or severe
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by a person's impaired ability to stop or control their alcohol consumption despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, and lasting changes in the brain caused by alcohol misuse perpetuate AUD and make individuals vulnerable to relapse. The severity of AUD can vary between individuals, and it is generally classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), outlines the criteria for determining the severity of AUD. According to the DSM-5, the severity of AUD is based on the number of specified criteria met by the patient within a 12-month period. Meeting two to three of the criteria results in a diagnosis of mild AUD, four to five criteria indicate moderate AUD, and six or more criteria signify severe AUD.
The specific criteria used to assess the severity of AUD cover various aspects of an individual's drinking habits and behaviours. These criteria include questions about the impact of drinking on an individual's ability to carry out daily tasks, personal relationships, and job performance. They also address the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms, the presence of cravings, and any associated health risks or consequences.
AUD affects individuals differently, and the treatment approaches must be tailored accordingly. Evidence-based treatments for AUD include behavioural therapies, mutual-support groups, and medications. Behavioural treatments, such as alcohol counselling and talk therapy, aim to change drinking behaviours and build coping skills. Mutual-support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, provide peer support and can be easily accessed in many communities. Additionally, medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help reduce alcohol consumption and prevent relapse.
It is important to recognise that AUD is a treatable condition, and individuals can achieve and maintain recovery with appropriate interventions. The availability of various treatment options ensures that individuals can find the approach that best suits their needs and severity of the disorder.
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AUD treatment includes behavioural therapies, mutual-support groups and/or medication
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment includes behavioural therapies, mutual-support groups, and/or medication. Behavioural health treatments can bring about lasting positive change. Behavioural therapies, also known as alcohol counselling, involve working with a healthcare professional to identify and help change the behaviours that lead to heavy drinking. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is one such therapy, helping patients identify the feelings and situations that can lead to heavy drinking, teaching them coping skills, and showing them how to manage stress and change the thoughts that cause them to want to drink. CBT can be delivered one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. Another therapy is motivational enhancement therapy, which helps patients build and strengthen the motivation to change their drinking behaviour. This therapy includes around four sessions over a short period, with the patient and therapist working together to form a plan for making changes in the patient's drinking behaviour.
Mutual-support groups are another treatment option for AUD. Twelve-step facilitation therapy is a clinical intervention developed to increase a patient's active involvement in a 12-step group such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA is a self-help organisation founded in 1935 that changed the way professionals thought about alcohol use disorder and treatment. It developed a very successful 12-step program that combines self-help with a spiritual foundation and is based on the fellowship of recovering alcoholics. Increased attendance at group meetings can, in turn, facilitate decreases in alcohol consumption. Mutual Support Group Facilitation encourages patients with AUD to sample mutual help groups broadly, including secular options such as SMART Recovery.
Finally, medication can be used to treat AUD. Three medications have been approved by the FDA to treat AUD, helping to prevent a return to heavy drinking and promote abstinence. These medications are neither addicting nor complicated to prescribe. They can be prescribed by a specialist or a primary care professional, along with brief counselling.
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Frequently asked questions
No, treatment approaches vary from person to person. While some treatments may work for one person, they may not work for another.
Alcohol treatment programs aim to reduce self-destructive behaviors and promote positive peer pressure, provide structure, teach coping skills, and allow for a new beginning.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be treated with behavioral therapies, mutual-support groups, and/or medications.
AA is a self-help organization founded in 1935 that revolutionized the way professionals thought about alcohol use disorder and treatment. They developed a successful 12-step program combining self-help with a spiritual foundation.
Withdrawal symptoms include trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria, malaise, feeling low, or a seizure.
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