Alcoholism in America Part 1

Alcohol can be a hazardous legal substance in the United States if consumption is more than the legal limit, as evidenced by deaths resulting from drunk driving, domestic abuse, homelessness due to loss of jobs and other income, jail time, and long-term chronic disease. When a person with an addiction reaches the level of dependency, that individual is in a very, very dark place, which makes recovery all the more difficult. I have seen firsthand how alcohol addiction can disrupt a family structure to the core, bringing about trauma, anger, and bitterness.

Unfortunately, I grew up in a family of alcoholics. As a young boy, I was told, “You are going to be just like your father, a drunk.” My grandfather drank, my dad drank, my uncles drank, my brothers drank, and I drank. It seemed to be the norm in my family. I remember going to family functions in North Carolina and South Carolina as a child and seeing the male members of my family slip away around the corner, knowing they were doing something they did not want others to see, like drinking.

Are You Ready to Change?

This article will address the needs of the alcoholic through a community-based program called Alcoholics Anonymous or A.A. I doubt seriously that many of my male family members, if any, attended a 12-step support group to deal with their issues in the 70s and 80s. Back then, in the black community, many people felt that support groups, counseling, or therapy were for weak-minded individuals and would not attend unless they were in jeopardy of losing something. However, I can say that my father and an older brother participated in a local A.A. meeting and, to some degree, helped a little.

For my father, an Amry veteran, a recovery support treatment facility saved him from his deathbed. However, he later died of lung cancer, having smoked most of his life, and cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism. My brother, who attended meetings due to recommendations from his job, eventually lost his job, continued drinking, and is now in a treatment facility with loss of memory due to alcoholism. For a person with substance use disorder to change, there must be a willingness to change. A.A. is a tool and resource to help those who want to change even though they may relapse several times. A.A. has a saying at the end of their meetings, “It works if you keep coming back.” Hopefully, this article will show the strengths and the solid foundation of working steps towards recovery and understanding the principles.

For more information for yourself, a friend or a family member please visit https://www.aa.org