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Essay Subject: Examines the AA program, how it works, advantages & negative aspects. Recommendations for change.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Examines the AA program, how it works, advantages & negative aspects. Recommendations for change. Paper Introduction: Evaluation of the 12-step Program Abstract The AA program is based on a number of written materials which have as their foundation the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. These are intended to be suggestions enabling people to obtain sobriety, improve their life situations, and retain sobriety over the long-term. They are supported in this effort by relationships with individual sponsors and participation in ongoing AA groups which develop group cohesion and support, teach life skills through example, and provide role models for recovering individuals. The advantage of the AA program is that it works for many people. It provides them with a clearly-defined goal, program, and structure for obtaining their goals. It provides them with an ongoing suppo Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Otherindividuals need mental health treatment in order to truly recover. Memberstake turns sharing their experience, strengths, and hope regarding thatissue. Ideal substance abuse treatment still open todebate. It is a spiritually-basedprogram which immediately offends some people. Revision of AA materials to include inclusive language. and Miller, W.R. Finally, in looking at the work of Yalom (1975) regarding grouptherapy, and group dynamics that are effective in healing andtransformation, it is apparent that AA offers many of these. Change in the insistence about the sufficiency of AA and morerecognition of the value of psychotherapies and medication as adjuncts totreat mental health problems and resolve issues. The advantage of the AA program is that it works for many people. Petersen, C. This includes both the 12 steps to recoveryand the 12 traditions by which the program operates. Acknowledgment that AA is not effective for everyone, thusallowing for referral of individuals to more appropriate programs, such ascognitive-behavioral programs or reduced risk programs. It provides support for people who are attempting to withdrawfrom alcohol, which is a difficult effort. 2. Generally, this is done at 9 daysand then on the annual anniversary of their entrance to the program.People are honored and admired for their sobriety and their length of timein the program. Another type ofmeeting involves working with another book from the AA canon, which isgenerally termed the 12 x 12. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 56(6), 616-62 . References Galanter, M. (1995). Evaluation of the 12-step ProgramAbstract The AA program is based on a number of written materials which haveas their foundation the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. (1975). Old-timers and hard-liners contend that AA is sufficient, andthat if individuals simply follow the program to the best of their abilityand continue attending meetings, they will clean up their lives, maintainsobriety, and become happy, respected members of their community.Suggestions for Improvement: I would recommend the following improvements: 1. The meetings themselves vary in some details, but follow a basicformat. In order to refine its efforts, I would recommend that AA become morecontemporary, adding more modern stories to its materials, includinginclusive language, recognizing that it does not work for all people, andacknowledging the value of treatment programs, psychotherapies, andmedication.Description of Treatment: As members of Alcoholics Anonymous generally assert, AA is a simpleprogram, although that does not mean that it is an easy one. These meetings may be once or twice a week, in small towns, ormay be held all day and night long in larger cities. Finally, each new entrant to the program is expected to find asponsor within the program to work with. and Kleber, H.D. They aresupported in this effort by relationships with individual sponsors andparticipation in ongoing AA groups which develop group cohesion andsupport, teach life skills through example, and provide role models forrecovering individuals. 4. The major negative is that Alcoholics Anonymous does not work foreveryone. (1999). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy.NY: Basic Books, Inc. It is also primarilyChristian in its approach. In the first type of general meeting, at this point in theprocess, an individual chooses a topic, or brings up a problem. Generally they begin with readings, either of the "How it Works"selection or of "The Twelve Traditions." These are both taken from what iscalled The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. These areintended to be suggestions enabling people to obtain sobriety, improvetheir life situations, and retain sobriety over the long-term. There are several types ofmeeting. Itemphasizes sobriety above all else and does not allow for other agendas toconfuse its basic message (Tonigan et al., 1998). Managed Healthcare, 9(6), 4 -42. The American Psychiatric Association. AA groupdynamics and 12-step activity. It provides them with an ongoing support systemthat is always available. Many people aredissuaded by its emphasis on abstinence and its spiritual basis. It is also somewhat patriarchal in tone andstructure, which offends many modern women. 3. (1999). The problem is that AA does not work for everyone. In another type of meeting, the focus is strictly on the 12 steps,with each meeting emphasizing discussion of one step. It provides individuals with structure totheir lives and a set of suggestions in the 12 principles that enables themto get sober and clear up some of the messes in their life. Men are expected to findmale sponsors and women are expected to find female sponsors to avoidsexual distractions.Pros and Cons of Treatment Process: The main advantage of this treatment is that works for a large numberof people. It alsoprovides rewards to the sober individual through celebration of theindividual's birthday into sobriety. The American Psychiatry PressTextbook of Substance Abuse. Another problem with Alcoholics Anonymous is that individuals areoften discouraged (although less frequently than previously) from obtainingother kinds of assistance, such as psychotherapy and medication for mentaldisorders. It is also focused on completeabstinence, which some people are not willing to attempt. It provides individual supportthrough the sponsorship program, and group support and encouragementthrough the meeting process. This sponsor helps the newcomerby being available to talk about problems in early sobriety and is to serveas a role model of sobriety himself or herself. Yalom, I. This makes it helpful for a wide range of people.Another advantage is that AA has remained a strict, narrow focus. It hasabstinence as its goal and the method involves attendance at regularmeetings. He lists 12categories, including guidance, catharsis, identification, self-understanding, instillation of hope, existential factors, altruism, groupcohesiveness, and universality, all of which can be offered through the 12-step group. The 12-step philosophy is broad enough, and vague enough, to allow for manyinterpretations. Galanter and Kleber (1999) indicated that the 12-step programactually allows for quite a bit of diversity in group practice. Updating of the Big Book of AA to include more contemporarystories. Tonigan, J.S., Ashcroft, F. Itprovides them with a clearly-defined goal, program, and structure forobtaining their goals. As Petersen (1999) noted, it is increasingly the choice ofmanaged care, because it does not cost anything, but that does not meanthat it is the best choice for each person. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.