Alcoholics Anonymous is an international organization that was formed to help out individuals who have had drinking problems. The Alcoholics Anonymous is an example of a non-profit, non-professional organization, and it is basically an organization that was formed to serve as a medium for individuals and people to have a 'helping hand,' an immediate hand wherein an individual can get help without the embarrassing and tiring process of membership registration and the public knowledge that an individual is experiencing alcohol problems and having difficulty with one's behavior towards alcoholism.
Alcoholics Anonymous as an organization that has its own program in order to deal with individual and groups who are experiencing troubles and difficulties in handling alcoholism. The AA's program is composed of the Recovery Program and the Twelve Steps. These programs can be dealt with individually or in groups, since members of AA have various allegiances, and may undergo treatment (through…...

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Bibliography

A.A. Factfile." 1998. Alcoholics Anonymous Official Website. 21 October 2002 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/default/en_about.cfm.

Alcoholics Anonymous
The first face-to-face meeting I attended was an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at the United Methodist Church in Greenville, SC on a Friday night. Smoking was allowed at the meeting, which was held in a wheelchair-accessible facility. Coffee and snacks were served. I arrived ten minutes early. Several others were also there early, including the person setting up a table full of literature. The person setting out the literature smiled and said hello to me when I browsed the books, all of which were related to the Twelve Step program. Most of the books were official Alcoholics Anonymous publications, and I recognized the "Big Book" immediately as well as some of the other publications that are listed on the AA website.

As the people filled into the space, I noticed that many knew each other. They talked casually in the moments before the meeting began formally. I took my seat…...

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References

The Big Book, the Basic Text for Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5: How it Works (pg. 58). Please read this entire chapter. Retrieved: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org?

Leshner, A.I. (1997). Addiction is a brain disease, and it matters. Science 3 October 1997: Vol. 278 no. 5335 pp. 45-47

Narcotics Anonymous. "For the Public" and "In times of Illness" and "information about NA." Retrieved: www.na.org

Parssinen, T.M. & Kerner, K. (1980). Development of the disease model of drug addiction in Britain, 1870-1926. Cambridge Journal of Medical History 24(3).

First, the person who attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings admits that their drinking has become out of hand. The admission of a problem is the first step toward recovery. Second, the person who joins Alcoholics Anonymous, however informally, finds solace that he or she is not alone. Suddenly the individual is surrounded by caring, compassionate, and supportive persons who share similar stories and who completely withhold judgment. In fact, one of the things I noticed most as an outsider attending the meeting was that no one commented on the stories being shared with the group. No one offered advice. The only advice members are willing to give is "Keep coming back." Other slogans like "It works if you work it" help solidify the core tenets of the group in a person's mind. Therefore, a third goal of attending Alcoholics Anonymous is that the group seems to encourage commitment and discipline. Even…...

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References

Alcoholics Anonymous. "Information on a.A." Retrieved Mar 6, 2009 at  http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=1 

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous." Retrieved Mar 6, 2009 at  http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en.pdf 

Mayo Clinic. "Alcoholism." Retrieved Mar 6, 2009 at  http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcoholism/DS00340/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all

Alcoholics Anonymous: A Personal Account of my Experience at an AA 12-Step Meeting
A Personal Account of my Experience at an AA 12-Step Meeting: Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics anonymous groups are groups where recovering alcoholics, and alcoholics with a desire to stop drinking meet to educate and inspire each other about their journey with alcoholism, and their decision to restore their lives. This text presents a personal account of what I experienced in one of the AA group sessions that I attended in my locality.

A Personal Account of my Experience at an AA 12-Step Meeting

I searched the internet for the available open AA 12-step groups in my locality, and located one whose members meet every other Saturday evening in the local church. The website stated clearly that this was a women's group, and I figured that it would be interesting to know the specific factors that drive women to addiction, and how their…...

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References

Alcoholics Anonymous. (2015). The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous. Retrieved November 5, 2015 from  http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA/The-12-Steps-of-AA 

Armstrong, M. (2002). Employee Reward (3rd ed.). Wiltshire, UK: Cromwell Press.

Gastil, J. (1993). Democracy in Small Groups: Participation, Decision-Making and Communication. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers.

Alcohol Anonymous Observation
Alcoholic Anonymous Observation

I had heard the parable before; "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." In many ways it had already resonated in my head, but this perspective was a skewed one from not having had to experience what it is like to be in a position not to want to help yourself. That was until I attended a local Alcohol Anonymous meeting, to discover so many people struggling with how to empower themselves beyond the dependent state of an addict.

The meeting was just at the tail end of the typical mid-week rush hour. The traffic was beginning to subside, as it was around 7:30 on a Wednesday evening. The location of the meeting was a small local church, of what Christian denomination I could not really ascertain. It was located off (PLEASE PUT IN…...

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting: April 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. In Paso Robles, California.
I previously had contacted the leader of the AA meeting to see if I could get permission to attend a session. He wondered if I was in the media, and I told him this was for a college class; and after he explained that everything is open for discussion in these meetings he made clear that I was not to use any real names in my report. I agreed and here is what happened at that meeting.

As I approached the meeting place -- in the back of a small retail building on a busy street near downtown -- several men and a woman were smoking cigarettes outside the building and greeted me with "hi." There was an outside ash tray jammed full of cigarette butts, but no cigarette butts were on the ground. I was a…...

Self-Help GroupsThe Theory and History of Self-Help GroupsSelf-help groups are sometimes known as mutual aid or support groups. They are voluntary associations of people who share something in commonusually a desire to overcome a personal problem or cope with a problem in the family that they all might share. These groups have been in existence in their modern form for decades and can be traced back to the early 20th century.The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group, for example, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. It is perhaps one of the most well-known self-help groups in the world. AA's 12-step program is in fact a model for many other groups dealing with a variety of issues, like substance abuse or any kind of addiction. The success of AA can be attributed to its peer-led approach, where members support one another in their recovery journey.The rise of self-help…...

Introduction
This field report covers two separate visits to a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting, both at the St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church, located at 6100 NW 24th Avenue in Miami, Florida. Both meetings started at 5:15PM and ended at 6:30PM. One of the meetings took place on Tuesday, November 28, and the other on Friday, December 1, 2017. Both meetings have a theme called “Inner City Recovery.” Located in the heart of Liberty City, St. Matthews caters to the local African-American community. Unsurprisingly, attendants of the both the Inner City Recovery NA meetings were predominantly black males with a low socio-economic status. Results of the fieldwork illustrates the role Twelve Step programs like NA play in recovery.
Meeting Description
The fieldwork took place over the course of two non-contiguous days. On Tuesday, November 28, the meeting had a theme focused on Step Two of the Twelve Steps: “We came to believe that a…...

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References

Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M.D. (2016). Foundations of Addictions Counseling, 3rd Edition. Pearson.

Khantzian, E.J. (2014). A psychodynamic perspective on the efficacy of 12-step programs. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 32(2-3): 225-236.

Experiences Leading Groups:The Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous and Group FacilitationsOne of the most gratifying and transformative experiences in my life was going to my first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group meeting. AA is a support and recovery group that is entirely facilitated by former addicts. It is the original 12-step group format. The purpose of AA is to enable people to have a life in recovery and overcome the grip of their addiction. AA is based upon a commitment to abstinence. It is one of the oldest types of support groups of its kind. There is a bible, called the Big Book, which outlines the basic principles of the group, and which guides the facilitation of the group.Some aspects of AA which are unique are that there are open and closed meetings. Open meetings are for recovering addicts, their families, friends, and people contemplating sobriety. Closed meetings are for members who…...

Group Observation: Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels Q1. What is your role in this group? (Observer, facilitator, member, etc.)
Upon the request of a friend, I chose to observe an open Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting last year. Unlike a closed meeting, which is solely reserved for people who have admitted to have an alcohol addiction, AA open meetings are open to addicts contemplating recovery, friends, family members, and outside observers. I had previously attended an open meeting several years ago to support another friend to support another person. This meeting, I was an observer, acting as a supporter, as well as a critical analyst, based on my greater knowledge of social work and psychology. Since I had learned more about therapy, I was curious to see how the dynamics operated in the meeting, as well as to accompany my friend by her request.
AA has created open meetings for several reasons. First of…...

Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-ANON esearch Paper IntroductionTreatment and support of alcoholism have multiple methods designed to assist those suffering from alcohol abuse together with their families (oom & Greenfield, 1993). As a result, multiple groups have been formed to help battle alcohol effects (Sisson & Mallams, 1981). Such groups encompass persons struggling to abstain from alcohol and groups that encompass family members to those suffering from alcohol abusefor instance, Alcoholic Anonymous, a global support group for persons with alcohol challenges (oom & Greenfield, 1993). The group is a self-supporting organization that includes non-professionals without any education or age requirement (Sisson & Mallams, 1981). Alcoholic Anonymous meetings take place in several areas locally. Within such meetings, individuals get the opportunity to share their experiences and discussions relating to alcoholism. Some meetings can, however, be designated for beginners.Another group is Al-Anon, which is mainly for the family members of those with alcohol…...

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ReferencesDonovan, D. M., Ingalsbe, M. H., Benbow, J., & Daley, D. C. (2013). 12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: An overview. Social work in public health, 28(3-4), 313-332.Laudet, A. B. (2003). Attitudes and beliefs about 12-step groups among addiction treatment clients and clinicians: Toward identifying obstacles to participation. Substance use & misuse, 38(14), 2017-2047.Room, R., & Greenfield, T. (1993). Alcoholics Anonymous, other 12?step movements and psychotherapy in the US population, 1990. Addiction, 88(4), 555-562.Sisson, R. W., & Mallams, J. H. (1981). The use of systematic encouragement and community access procedures to increase attendance at Alcoholic Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 8(3), 371-376.Thier, C. M. (2019). The moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between servant leadership and turnover intentions among air force personnel (Doctoral dissertation, Saint Leo University).

Alcoholics Anonymous in Group TherapyGroup OrientationAlcoholics Anonymous (AA) focuses on attaining sobriety among alcohol users. One of the central areas of focus for AA is special populations such as adolescents, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and racialized communities. Often, these categories do not enjoy the interventions integrated into the traditional systems. The associated benefits of AA linked to mainstream populations are not necessarily replicated among special populations. The theoretical basis of this argument is that the inception of AA did not target special populations besides the limited numbers of attendees from special populations. AA was designed to cater to adults from a Christian background, particularly white men. The question of its effectiveness in diverse populations is thus crucial in incorporating the theories of intervention. Moreso, in assessing the validity of the 12-step philosophy in AA. A generalized assessment indicates that AA is effective even among these diverse groups. Still,…...

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ReferencesHumphreys, K. (1999). Professional Interventions That Facilitate 12-Step Self-Help Group Involvement, 23(2), 93–97. Timko, C. (n.d.). Outcomes of AA for Special Populations, 1–24.

As mentioned, both Antonio and amon described that their need for alcohol increased significantly during times of increased stress. Both related a self-medicating process whereby they utilized alcohol as a means of escape from their worries and troubles. With the accuracy of sober 20/20 hindsight, both men explained how they can now see how this process merely set into motion a vicious cycle. Drinking beget problems and stress, which beget more drinking, and more problems and stress.

In addition, both men indicated that drinking had interrupted their sleep patterns significantly. Staying up until all hours of the night drinking was not an uncommon lifestyle facet, for both men. This often led to passing out in the wee hours of the morning and not awakening until early afternoon or later. Excessive drinking often also led to spontaneous 'naps' in the middle of the day, which would lead to being unable to go…...

Morgenstern's research suggests that the factors which determine the success of the treatment are usually the individual's determination to make the treatment work, the individual's confidence in his own self-control, and the individual's acceptance of needing to use strategies to avoid taking drugs or drinking. These were found to be the same reasons that any drug or alcohol treatments are successful, including those which are self-initiated. The methodology of the study included the study of 93 people completing 12-step programs in one of two hospitals over the course of three weeks. The programs were designed to motivate the recovering addict by trying to help end denial, give a sense of belonging, and recogniing addiction as a disease. Those who had a strong desire to complete the program in the first place were the most successful and continued going to self-help meetings after the three-week treatment. Those who were not…...

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Liepman, M.R. (1989, June) Evaluation of a program designed to help family and significant others to motivate resistant alcoholics into recovery. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Retrived February 24, 2005 from  http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0978/is_n2_v15/ai_8543431 

This article is about a study done on motivating not only the alcoholic himself but also his social network to encourage seeking treatment for alcohol problems. The social networks in the study consisted of relatives and significant others of the alcoholic, and these people were given advice and counseling on the need to confront the alcoholic about his problem. There were 24 social networks of alcholics involved in this study, and seven of the participating family groups did confront the alcoholic directly about the problem. The results of the study indicated that alcoholics that are formally confronted by their friends or family are a lot more likely to seek treatment, including detox programs or self-help treatment programs. Additionally, those who were directly confronted by members of their social network were also more likely to remain sober than those who were not confronted, whether or not treatment was saught. Encouraging social networks to confront those with drinking problems may help prevent the need for a crisis to occur before the alcholic seeks treatment, and may cause treatment to be more effective.

How did this article answer my research question: In addition to health care workers and peers, the motivation for the alcoholic of being confronted by his own social network can be the factor which leads him to seek treatment. Additionally, being formally confronted by his friends and family may help keep the alcoholic motivated to remain sober during and after treatment.

S. Census Bureau) It is clear after having reviewed this information that this area is quite needy in provision of alcoholism treatment and intervention.
VI. Treatment Program Community Marketing Process

In the initiative of reaching the community both through media and public relations as tools to raise awareness the organization will be enabled to alert members of the community about the services available. Promotions, marketing, public relations and media advocacy are all critical specifically as these are all integrated with the business sector and as well adapted by nonprofit organizations. In the attempt to market or advertise to the community the available services all venues of the media should be sought and the mass media in the form of newspaper and magazines and other printed material as well as media through television and radio broadcast communications and finally through the Internet's provision of electronic media. Communication with the media should take the…...

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References

Ervin, N.E. (2002). Advanced community health nursing practice: Population-focused care. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. ISBN# 0-8053-7364-0.

Bensley, R.J., & Brookins-Fisher, J. (EDs). (2003). Community health education method: a practitioners guide. (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett. ISBN# 0-7637-1801-7

Andreasen, A.R. (1995). Marketing social change: Changing behavior to promote health, social development, and the environment. San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN# 0-7879-0137-7

Medicaid EPSDT and AOD Treatment Services Policy Brief entitled Resources for Recovery: State Practices that Expand Treatment Opportunities" Medicaid EPSDT and AOD Treatment Services" (O'Brien, et al., 2005) National Program Office, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. Online located at: www.resourcesforrecovery.org

1. The role of a substance abuse nurse in promoting and providing support for individuals struggling with addiction
2. The impact of substance abuse on mental health and the role of nurses in managing co-occurring disorders
3. The importance of culturally competent care in substance abuse nursing
4. The challenges and rewards of working with individuals with substance use disorders in a nursing setting
5. The ethical considerations of caring for patients with substance abuse issues
6. The role of education and prevention in addressing substance abuse from a nursing perspective
7. The impact of substance abuse on families and the role of nurses in supporting....

Certainly! Here are some potential essay topics related to social problems and programs addressing those issues:

1. The impact of homelessness on individuals and communities, and the effectiveness of government-funded programs such as Housing First in addressing this issue.

2. The challenges faced by individuals struggling with addiction, and the benefits of programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous in providing support and recovery resources.

3. The prevalence of food insecurity in low-income communities, and the role of government assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in ensuring access to adequate nutrition.

4. The mental health stigma in society, and the importance of....