:The AA Blog

There are currently over a million soldiers in the US army, many have seen combat and survived to live with what they’ve witnessed. Some soldiers manage to cope, others never do, resorting to the use of drugs and alcohol to numb the pain and somehow kill the visions and voices in their heads.

Many soldiers suffer from a variety of psychological problems including nightmares, flashbacks, paranoia and irrational anger for these reasons, Alcohol and Drug abuse is quickly becoming a growing problem among returning war vets, with the number of binge drinkers and narco-users nearly doubling in the past six years. Figures suggest that 11 out of every 1,000 soldiers suffered from alcohol abuse problems in the first have of 2009.

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The Department Of Health – Shines a light on new research that links sleep problems with alcohol use. The research states that more the 50% of drinkers are unware of this link. Drinkers often feel that a drink or two will help them fall asleep – not the case.

More often than not your body is in a state of cleaning house meaning that as you slumber your body isn’t really resting at all, therefore the quality of your sleep is affected, leaving you feeling tired and sometimes even hungover the next morning.

To avaiod this feeling of sleepiness, researchers suggest that you avoid drinking too much alcohol prior to bed time, this way your body has enough time to metabolize the alcohol. When you awake you’ll feel more refreshed, and you’ll have a lot less explaining to do, particularly if you had one too many shots of the bottle.

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According to a study published monday, binge drinking is no longer just a stigma associated with teen drinking, College frat parties or a famous spring break beach party full of wasted Co-eds, binge drinking is now a growing problem for many older adults as well – “many overindulging in the drunken nectar a bit too much.”  

Wait Kids, Save a Drink For Grand Ma!

Researchers found that 23 percent of men between the ages of 50 and 64 admitted to binge drinking in the past month, as did approximately 9 percent of women. This data was compiled from a government survey of roughly 11,000 average, salt of the earth Americans ages 50 and up.

The findings published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, suggest that even though 45 percent of U.S. college students ages 18 and 24 reported a recent drinking binge, it also shines light on a growing problem – “Binge drinking is not just for youngters anymore – Adults are quickly joining the party as well!“  Further evidenced by the fact that more that 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women 65 and older also admitted to surrendering to the temptation of the bottle.

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11 States set out to pioneer a  mandatory law that would require all 1st time alcohol offenders to prove their sobriety before they can start their engines. The plan proposes the installation of a device – Alcohol Ignition interlocks., which blocks a vehicles engine if alcohol is detected on the drivers breath.

Starting this fall The Federal Transportation Funding Bill could be up for debate by congress. It is the hope of these 11 states that Mandatory Alcohol Ingition Interlocks be part that debate., requireing all 50 states toinstall these devices for ayone convicted of drunk driving, states that do not comply risk loosing federal highway money.

To date 47 states have some form of the interlock ingition law in place for at least some offenders. However, Alabama, South Dakota, and Vermont have no Such Laws.

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Initially as a meeting to address race relations, the meeting and it’s venue has quickly spurred a debate as to whether beer should be on the menue.

Since Alcohol use among youths has become a permanent fixture in the media, many argue “is it even wise to use an alcoholic component in such a meeting?” – surely it is not needed. This is the very same component that has Alocholics and many through out the recovery community up in arms.

Ironically, the alcoholic component injected into the meeting arose as a result of President Obama’s phone call to Sergeant Crowley, who unexpected took the call on his cell phone in a local police bar. It was later stated that “The idea of meeting for a beer seemed appropriate at the time.”

Now the world has inappropriately coined it the “Beer Summit”, leaving those with real alcohol and addiction problems filled with chagrin.

Many also argue that while the president is experiencing various sates of inebriation, desperately trying to stitch the wounds of his supposed “racial remarks”, many good American men and women are being killed over seas.

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Here at The AA Blog, we constantly review sober websites and other Alcoholics Anonymous Blogs. We also add links to our blogroll regularly. But we always welcome new blogs (or websites we haven’t found yet) to contact us for links.

Check out our new Link Exchange/Contact Page.

Although we prefer that your website be related to recovery, addiction, sobriety and other similar topics, we are certainly willing to consider any website interested in exchanging links with The AA Blog.

Want to post a banner on the AA Blog? Just send it over. As soon as we’ve confirmed our link on your homepage, we’ll add your banner or image to our Friends of Ours page.

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The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book is the basic text for the Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship. And although there are several versions of the Big Book, there is a “strong sentiment” against making any major changes in the basic text. However, each new edition does add on to the original text.

For example, in the second addition of the Big Book, the Twelve Traditions were added along with directions for getting in contact with Alcoholics Anonymous. The fourth (and latest) edition of the Big Book now includes the Twelve Concepts for World Services and revisions to the personal stories section.

The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book includes the following chapters:

1. Bill’s Story
2. There Is A Solution
3. More About Alcoholism
4. We Agnostics
5. How It Works
6. Into Action
7. Working With Others
8. To Wives
9. The Family Afterward
10. To Employers
11. A Vision For You

To read the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book online, check out the Alcoholics Anonymous website at www.AA.org/bigbookonline.

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In the 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), we learn that A.A. is not formally associated with any particular organization or corporation. However, there are several non-profit organizations and government agencies (A.A. included) that are dedicated to providing crucial information and resources that you may not find at your local meeting. The following are just a few of the organizations dedicated to providing information and resources on alcohol abuse and alcoholism:

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) World Services, Inc.
475 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-870-3400
Email: Via the AA website
Website: www.Alcoholics-Anonymous.org

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
Phone: 757-563-1600
Email: WSO@al-anon.org
Website:  www.Al-Anon.Alateen.org

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
20 Exchange Place, Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-269-7797
Email: national@ncadd.org
Website: www.NCADD.org

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Scientific Communications Branch
6000 Executive Boulevard, Willco Building, Suite 409
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
Phone: 301-443-3860
Email: NIAAAWeb-R@Exchange.NIH.Gov
Website: www.NIAAA.NIH.gov

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It isn’t often that we post “traditional” aspects of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). However, taking the time to display the more traditional side of A.A. is just as important as covering current media, website reviews and everything else we do here at The AA Blog. The following is a slightly compressed version of the twelve traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.).

1. Personal recovery and lasting sobriety depends on A.A. unity. The common welfare of the group should come first.

2. There is one ultimate authority, a loving God (as we see him).

3. The only requirement for an individual to join Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is the desire to stop drinking.

4. All groups should operate independently except in matters affecting other Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) groups.

5. The primary purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is to carry its message to other people suffering from alcohol abuse.

6. An Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) group should never endorse, finance or lend its name to any outside corporation as it may divert attention for the fellowship’s ultimate purpose.

7. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) groups should be self supporting and decline any contributions.

8. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) should remain non-professional. However, an A.A. service center may employ workers for special purposes.

9. Although Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) should remain non-professional, an A.A. center may create service boards or committees responsible for the people they serve.

10. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), as a group, has no opinions on outside issues and should never be drawn into public controversy over such opinions.

11. Public Relations for Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A) should be based for attraction rather than promotion.

12. All members of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) should place principles before personalities. Anonymity is the foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous

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“We are committed to providing the best service, shopping experience, and selection for individuals working hard to improve themselves. You won’t find books on exotic travel or wedding planning. What you will find is the largest selection of recovery book titles online. We are not a bookstore. We are a recovery bookstore . . . and more. Need a unique gift for that special someone in recovery? Check out our Recovery Gift recommendations below! Other recovery stores can’t compare with our value and service. Same day shipping on most items we carry! Bookmark RecoverySuperstore.com today!” –RecoverySuperStore.com

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