PREFACE – THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION!

I came to Alcoholics Anonymous only after it had become perfectly clear that I had lost the power to,

“Just don’t drink – no matter what!”.

I was lucky to survive the next three years of false hope that I would be able to do what had already been proven to fail.​ Eventually convinced I was somehow different than most, I desperately sought out recovered alcoholics who shared my experience – that staying sober had proven to be impossible.​

Although each story was unique, every solution gave credit to the spiritual program of action outlined in the Big Book.​ When I let go of the misdirection I had taken and pursued the spiritual program with all the desperation of a drowning man, my alcoholic problem was miraculously removed.​

I now realize the misdirection in my case, was actually great advice for the majority of newcomers to A.A. who are less seriously alcoholic and have not yet lost the power of choice.​ But to act as if Bill Wilson or Doctor Bob might have benefitted from the advice, “Just don’t drink – no matter what!”, is ridiculous.​

Ridiculous, yes! But don’t we give all newcomers the same advice without regard to the progression of their disease?​

Consider another fatal and progressive disease like cancer. Recovering Stage 1 cancer patients would never encourage someone with Stage 4 cancer to rely on their treatment plan.

Will we ever recognize that alcoholism also progresses in stages which may require different programs of recovery? The problem of progression is not limited to the newcomer.​

Real alcoholics who got sober without the spiritual solution tend to become restless, irritable and discontent as their disease progresses during sobriety. Some realize they need the 12 Steps and solve their spiritual malady before they drink.

Many never realize their predicament.

They drink and are baffled by their inability to stop. Certain that what worked so many years ago will work again, they keep doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

They fail to consider the progressive nature of their own alcoholism.​

Can you see how an awareness of the progressive nature of alcoholism might save more alcoholics than anything else?