Running Head: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMUS MEETING 1

Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting

Student Name

Institution Affiliation

Course Name and Number

Professor’s Name

Due Date
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“AA After Hours” Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting

Date of the meeting: 06th November 2021

Location: Online/ Zoom Virtual meeting

Contact: Email for a password: AHPword@gmail.com

Funded by: non-governmental organizations

1. Why did you choose this particular meeting location?

I selected this particular meeting because it was a virtual one which allowed me to attend while

also maintaining the COVID-19 guidelines in social distancing. Additionally, the platform has

daily meetings which gave me flexibility on when to attend.

2. Purpose of this Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting?

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide organization whose primary mission is to assist members

in achieving and maintaining sobriety.

3. Who makes up the membership or attendees?

There were 23 ladies and 15 males in attendance during the session. This was shocking since I

had always assumed that males were more impacted by drinking than women were. Around 7

a.m., the meeting began with opening prayers led by one of the official members. The gathering
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was organized by a non-profit organization supported by contributions, grants, membership dues,

room leases, and event fees.

4. Did you hear any of the following terms used and what is your understanding of

them? Big Book, 12-steps, 12 Traditions, higher power, sponsor, 90 in 90?

The strategy used by AA is the twelve-step program to recovery, which is a series of twelve

stages that the recovering addict must complete to achieve sobriety.

5. Describe the approaches of AA that offer help to member of this group?

The first approach is for an individual to own their powerlessness over alcohol. Then one must

trust that a force larger than themselves is capable of restoring their sanity, and they should make

a choice to surrender their willpower and their life to God. While these are just the first three

stages, the speakers throughout the meeting will refer to the twelve steps and the AA book to

reflect on their progress in the program.

6. What was your role in the group participation?

I was amazed by the group members’ response, as I assumed they would be resistant to

having an outsider there, but they were extremely accepting and asked several questions. It

was fascinating to hear about the members of the organization and their lives.

7. Were you identified as a community member or as a nursing student?

First, I met several kind individuals who welcomed me to the meeting when I told them that I

was a nursing student.

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8. How did that affect the response of the group?

The group was extremely supportive and was very willing to answer all the questions that I had.

They opened up about their experiences and helped me understand why the recovery process as

so important to them.

9. What feelings can you share about your experience?

It was difficult to listen to some people’s tales, but they help you understand their challenges and

demonstrate their determination to accept responsibility for their acts to rehabilitate and move

ahead.

10. What impact will this experience have on your personal life perspective?

Thinking back on my experience, I can understand how these gatherings become a home for

people since they can openly discuss their life experiences and what led them to this point

without fear of being criticized.

11. Why are alcoholics asked to obtain a sponsor?

When alcoholics decide to seek sobriety, they are urged to find a sponsor, somebody who has

sustained sober for many years and may serve as a source of encouragement and support. As

someone with expertise in the program, the sponsor’s role is to assist someone fresh to recovery

in staying on course.

12. What is the responsibility of the alcoholic to the sponsor?

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The alcoholic’s or sponsor’s responsibility is to seek out a sponsor as they first start recovery to

locate someone to support them through the difficult days ahead. Additionally, the sponsor may

assist the addict. Even if the sponsor has been clean for an extended amount of time, they still

have weak days, and the sponsor could stand beside them and provide assistance and

encouragement.

13. What is the sponsor’s responsibility to the alcoholic?

This collaboration develops into a relationship, and the partners can hold each other accountable

for their activities. The sponsor should encourage them to attend meetings, follow up on their

progress, provide emotional support, and share personal experiences.

14. How can the community better meet the rehabilitation needs of the alcoholic to

experience a better quality of life?

To enhance the quality of life for alcoholics, the community must first come together and

recognize alcoholism as a mental health disease, not something that can be quickly overcome.

15. Would you recommend this resource agency to a family member or friend who is in

need of this type of help?

I would, without a doubt, suggest this meeting to relatives and friends since it seemed like a safe

space for individuals to come and share their stories and eventually felt like a family.

16. Do you think AA is helpful for people with alcoholism? If so, how is it likely to help?

If not, why not?

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This meeting influenced my personal life since I know folks who suffer from alcoholism and feel

a lot more comfortable speaking with them after attending the meeting.

17. Could you see referring clients to AA?

I would definitely recommend AA to clients as it would be very helpful to their recovery

journey.

18. Do you have concerns about AA?

I do not have any concerns about AA as I see the clients and addicts are well taken care of

19. What type of interaction did you have with any of the participants?

When you sit back, listen, and see how the group members relate with one another, it truly does

feel like a family. Once this is recognized, I think that it will significantly improve the lives of

alcoholics, as they will get greater help from the community.

20. What was your emotional response to the meeting you attended?

Additionally, I learned how members are rewarded for attaining a specific degree of sobriety.

Each year of abstinence from alcohol would earn a member a medal. Even though the medals

were simple, they meant a great deal to the members since the more medals earned, the more

their courage was displayed.

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References

Experience life without alcohol addiction. (2021). Retrieved 6 November 2021, from

https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/