Thanks Jim & Karen. What a wonderful phrase. "Our description of the alcoholic"

I --  like many still -- used to reject the idea that is a "real alcoholic" - an expression used by our co-founders to identify a particular entity of drinker, for whom AA was established to help. It is also referred to as an alcoholic "of our type", as distinguished from other types of drinkers.

The co-founders acknowledged, that "Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics". (30:0) apparently these people are SO unwilling to admit they are real alcoholics they don't even want "real alcoholics" to admit it either.

Now THAT'S what I call UNWILLING. If they can't admit it, perhaps because they don't qualify, JEEZE – at least be open-minded enough to allow ME to admit it.

 How many folks right now refuse to admit that they are "real alcoholics"? Too many I would guess. They don't like the terminology.

They insist there is no "REAL ALCOHOLIC."  But not everyone who has a problem with alcohol can become a member of AA. Only real alcoholics can. The very Fellowship to which we all claim allegiance insists this and builds its foundation of understanding of the disease upon that. Well, denial buffs, here is your prime specimen and the co-founders it pegged - 70 years ago.

And the reason is that "No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows". (30:0)

My very first words at a beginners meeting were
" My name is Danny and I am here to find out if I am an alcoholic."

Dr Phil, Orprah, my family, my doctor or even the "addiction model" from my local "Happy Acres" might think an alcoholic is someone who "drinks too much" and has "wrecked his health, finances and relationships" from drinking. But that is THEIR description of the alcoholic - it has no relevance in AA. Our Program is geared upon the founders description which NEVER resembles that of the contemporary pundits - on TV, in rehabs, online and sadly in AA meetings

Hell, the rehabs think an alcoholic is someone who chews oxycodone or shoots smack for kicks! Our failure rate is so high because it counts non-alcoholics trying to get and stay sober in Fellowship that was not designed to treat whatever it is they got.

Everyone who has an alcoholic problem, who wrecks his health and kills people with their cars and loses jobs through abusing alcohol cannot be alcoholic under "Our description". (60:2)

Precious few are.

Peace,

Danny S
http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com