Originally Posted by
Gottalife 
What I was meaning is that the proportion of all aud sufferers that are at the severe end of the scale are the ones AA refers to as the real alcoholic, and who I think of as the hopeless or chronic alcoholic.
I am sure there are a good number of non alcoholics claiming AA membership these days, though I can't think why they would want to do that.
Well I am probably more on the "problem drinker" end of the scale, having been able to mostly moderate my drinking, stop when I had to, and not having suffered blackouts or severe consequences.. My problem stems more from my "thinking", than my "drinking", which was simply my way of self-medicating emotional problems. Yet I have found a lot of value in AA - both from the fellowship, as well as the 12 step program of recovery, which allows one to become more emotionally healthy.