What members of Alcoholics Anonymous really believe

Sifers, Sarah K.; Peltz, Kristina

doi:10.1080/13674676.2012.715630

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…This third theme captures the way in which by distancing the former drinking self and externalising the problem as alcohol's power rather than their own inherent shortcomings, they were able to protect their current view of themselves. This sense of an emerging more knowing self that was newly aware of the reality of their previous drinking fits with the AA emphasis on self-analysis (Sifers & Peltz, 2013). It also enabled the participants to resist the potential for stigma in taking on the identity of an addict.…”

Section: Reconstructing 'The Alcoholic' 15mentioning

confidence: 89%

Reconstructing ‘the Alcoholic’: Recovering from Alcohol Addiction and the Stigma this Entails

Hill

Leeming

2014

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Public perception of alcohol addiction is frequently negative, whilst an important part of recovery is the construction of a positive sense of self. In order to explore how this might be achieved, we investigated how those who self-identify as in recovery from alcohol problems view themselves and their difficulties with alcohol and how they make sense of others' responses to their addiction. Semi-structured interviews with six individuals who had been in recovery between 5 and 35 years and in contact with Alcoholics Anonymous were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The participants were acutely aware of stigmatising images of 'alcoholics' and described having struggled with a considerable dilemma in accepting this identity themselves. However, to some extent they were able to resist stigma by conceiving of an 'aware alcoholic self' which was divorced from their previously unaware self and formed the basis for a new more knowing and valued identity.

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Section: Reconstructing 'The Alcoholic' 15mentioning

confidence: 89%

Reconstructing ‘the Alcoholic’: Recovering from Alcohol Addiction and the Stigma this Entails

Hill

Leeming

2014

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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“…It is important to remember that there are many recovery program slogans. Others such as “One Day at a Time”, may be used along with “First Things First”, to encourage one to accept that one has limitations; and that perhaps focusing on only doing one thing at a time when trying to get sober is necessary but at times may not be sufficient (Kurtz, 2008; Sifers & Peltz, 2013). The field would benefit from an assessment of how these slogans are employed as an integrated set and their subjective interpretations by members of recovery programs, social service institutions, and the treatment community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the key slogans in the recovery movement is “First Things First” (e.g., White, 2002), although its origin is unknown. This slogan reminds the participant to remember one's priorities; to maintain a concentrated focus on prioritizing recovery so that the chances of success are not diminished; to do the next right thing; or more simply to just not drink or use (Herbert, 2012; Kelly & McCrady, 2008; Sifers & Peltz, 2013). Straussner and Byrne (2009) propose that future research would benefit from identifying the mechanisms of change that occurs through twelve step program participation and suggest that perhaps the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) slogan “First Things First,” is helpful for members because they may have poor multitasking skills or low tolerance to stress (either as a consequence of prolonged alcoholism or as a contributing factor to their alcohol misuse).…”

Section: First Things First: What Is the First Thing?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“First Things First”: What is the First Thing?

Sussman

Forster

Grigsby

2015

Substance Use & Misuse

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This OP-ED piece comments on the down-side of an otherwise useful 12-step slogan, “First Things First,” which generally refers to staying sober (not drinking or using no matter what). While important, there are environmental, micro-social, psychiatric, and neurobiological considerations that may place other needs at an equal or higher priority than sobriety per se. That is, other changes may be needed to set the stage for, or enhance efforts at sobriety, prior to or concurrent with attempting to quit one's drug of choice. Perhaps slogans should be considered in a broader context and not be taken too literally.

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