The label “Alcoholics Anonymous” evokes a certain stigma that most people new to sobriety are not comfortable with. The idea of going to a meeting where someone might see you is uncomfortable in early sobriety. Even admitting that you’re an alcoholic can take time to get used to.

Alcoholics Anonymous is Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is intended to be just that – anonymous. Group members are on a first name basis and the atmosphere is generally friendly, warm and casual. You’ll often hear members say that the most important person at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is the newcomer and for this reason, newcomers are strongly encouraged to introduce themselves so other members can offer support. Individuals share topics at a group level that are relevant to staying sober and they rely on each other for support to do so. What is shared at meetings is understood to stay at meetings and the anonymity of group members is strongly enforced. Discussion of other group members and their problems is discouraged.

Alcoholics Anonymous offers Support

While there are many critics of Alcoholics Anonymous, the program has offered the most successful form of recovery from alcoholism. It offers a social model program of change through the use of role models and peer support. New members secure “sponsors” who are other members with time in sobriety that help them work through the 12-steps upon which the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous were founded.

Members are encouraged to share at 12-step meetings but are also free to just sit and listen to others talk about their experiences with alcohol and how they stay sober through even the most difficult life experiences. This can be especially beneficial to a new person in sobriety who may struggle with how to handle a relationship break-up, loss of a loved one or major life transition without picking up a drink. Members are encouraged to get phone lists and call each other for support.

Alcoholics Anonymous is World-wide

One of the biggest benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous is that it’s available world-wide. This can be extremely helpful to those individuals who travel frequently and find that they need the support of a sober support network around them. The meetings will likely be different but the format of meetings is familiar. Wherever you attend Alcoholics Anonymous, it offers a safe harbor in the storm of emotions that can hit at any time but especially to those new in sobriety. For more information, please visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website.

One of the tragedies in dealing with substance abuse is our stereotypical view of alcoholics. We tend to see alcoholics as skid-row drunks begging for the money to get a large-size can of beer. While this view is one tragic view of alcoholics, it’s hardly the whole picture. According to a study by Howard Moss at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are five, distinct subtypes of alcoholics.

The first is the young adult alcoholic subtype. You could call them the Partier. It is estimated that about 32% of alcoholics in the US fall under this category. They usually became alcoholics around the age of 20, and average 24 years in age. They rarely seek help, nor do they drink every day, but they’re more likely to binge drink than any other type of alcoholic. The second type of alcoholic is the young antisocial subtype. Call them the Loner. 21% of US alcoholics are loners. They average about 26 years old, but started drinking a lot younger – often by the age of 15. Over half of this subtype has antisocial personality disorder, are more likely to smoke tobacco and top. This is not an overlap with the Partier type.

Alcoholics Are All Around You

19% of US alcoholics fall under the functional subtype. This type is middle-aged, and the people in this subclass usually work, have stable relationships and often more education than other alcoholics. You could call them the Slow Steady Drinkers. They usually drink every day, consuming five or more drinks on each day they drink. The intermediate family subtype could be called the Family Drinker. This type of alcoholic comprises 19% of US alcoholics. Half of them have close relatives who are alcoholics, tend to start drinking in their late teens and are alcoholic by the time they’re in their early thirties. The Classic Drunk, also called the chronic severe subtype, is actually the rarest subtype. Only 9% of US alcoholics could be classified as such. This group is mostly male, has the highest divorce rate and is the most frequent user of illicit drugs.