Celebrity Alcoholic
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,450
Celebrity Alcoholic
In case anyone else is encouraged by celebrity recovery stories. If not just ignore this thread 
elizabeth-vargas-alcoholic-article
elizabeth-vargas-alcoholic-article
Behold the power of NO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
I am glad that Ms Vargas is taking care of herself and has a sponsor. Hopefully her sponsor will explain to her tradition 11 and its ramifications.
Tradition 11: Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.
Tradition 11: Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,949
publicity stunt here. I'm encouraged by celebrity stories of real addicts who don't alert the press and lose everything or die
don't think reporters are above fabricating or exaggerating a substance problem in order to get ahead..
don't think reporters are above fabricating or exaggerating a substance problem in order to get ahead..
Behold the power of NO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
Originally Posted by sugarbear1 
No one told her to not to mention AA..... (did you read the comments?)
I wonder if she consulted with her sponsor before giving the interview. Any sponsor worth her salt would have given her a crash course on traditions.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,450
I guess it's a double edged sword. On the one hand a celebrity can provide leadership for others to have courage to get help, but I understand it goes against the tenants of AA. I also know celebrities use negative publicity to give their careers a boost.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 553
I applaud her for being so open and honest with her story, publicity or not. If you read the comments, there are quite a few complaining that alcoholism is called a disease, that it's a personal choice to drink or not to drink, that all of this is just a publicity stunt, etc.
It's creating a stir and in my opinion, that's what this society needs so that people become educated! If only my workplace was as understanding as hers is when returning to work.....bravo to her and to her employers. It's about time....
It's creating a stir and in my opinion, that's what this society needs so that people become educated! If only my workplace was as understanding as hers is when returning to work.....bravo to her and to her employers. It's about time....
Behold the power of NO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: WA
Posts: 7,764
Inca, I have no problems with her going public but as a member of AA she should not break traditions and since she is a newcomer, it was up to her sponsor to explain it to her.
Instead of saying she went to AA, she could just have said she joined a support group.
Instead of saying she went to AA, she could just have said she joined a support group.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 452
I applaud her courage. Can't imagine how hard that would be to go on national television and admit that you are an alcoholic. It took me years to even admit it to myself. Then years later to admit it to my family and very close friends. Good for her and best of luck to her in her journey.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 569
wow Carlotta, I am not sure we watched the same interview. I don't see where she made herself a "poster child" for AA. A lot of celebrites have mentioned AA and how it has helped them, and if they did relapse I do not recall anyone jumping up and down putting blame on AA. I liked her honesty about the guilt and how much energy it takes to keep the addiction "hidden". I was glad to see it and found myself nodding my head and seeing a lot of what she did, I did also while drinking. Always good to know your not alone on this journey and that there is help out there.
Guest
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South of England, UK
Posts: 65
Plenty of my idols have sobered up and are the reasons (along with my wife and son) I have been sober for two years. Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward (Black Sabbath drummer), Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) - the stories of all them have inspired me through thick and thin. Especially Ozzy, who has used his recovery to write anti-drinking and pro-life songs.
Especially this video
Especially this video
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
