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The Introduction, Foreword, and Preface contain a great deal of
anti-AA editorial commentary. The basic points are that AA is bad
for some (or most) people and that people who contradict the
belief-systems of AAers are demonized. Pro-AA individuals who are
easily offended might want to skip the introductory material. The
horror stories themselves are fascinating reads and only a few had
an entirely negative view of AA. Even avid 12-steppers should find
something of value and little to resent in most of these stories.
Some stories are very detailed, chapter-length tales of 13-stepping and
compulsory AA-attendance. Other stories are no more than a few paragraphs
long. Each writer clearly has an independent and unique perspective on
their AA experiences. Most names were changed to protect the innocent,
although some writers insisted that their names be proudly displayed.
Each story-teller drew a unique conclusion from their experience. The
differing opinions treated the subject with a basic fairness that was much
more open-minded and even-handed than the title suggests. Every writer was
clear that they were writing solely about their own experience and most
insisted that they did not intend that the reader jump to conclusions
about the organization as a whole.
Some contributers were primarily interested in reforming AA and fixing
AA's internal problems by opening a healthy dialog within meetings, making
newcomers aware of stalkers within the organization, and limiting the
authority of old-timers (who may be more interested in protecting their
friends and/or their egos than supporting the organization). They were
motivated by a desire to create a better environment for those seeking
recovery.
Some people protested the systematic sexism or racism they encountered
in the organization. One mentioned the lack of tolerance for
non-Judeo-Christian religious preferences. Male and female alcoholics are
clearly held to different standards of behavior in many AA groups.
Others told of the shock they experienced when they were admitted into
treatment centers and realized that they were in an abusive (or religious)
environment that they were unprepared to cope with. They related how they
and their families were pressured into accepting a pro-forma explanation
of their troubles. Most of the writers' scorn was reserved for treatment
centers and the counselors (most often characterized as deranged) who ran
them.
Some stories dealt with suicides and other destructive behaviors that
AA members were driven to when they were denied the support of the group
for some actual or philosophical conflict with the organization. Several
instances had to do with people being encouraged to quit taking prescribed
medications for mental illnesses in order to become authentically "sober"
according to the standards of their group.
Very few readers insisted that they would not refer a friend to AA
after their experiences, although most of them were emphatic that they
themselves would not return to "those rooms" again. Several had discovered
alternate methods of treatment, others felt that they had taken charge of
their lives and recovery sufficiently to no longer need the support of a
group to maintain their sobriety.
The differing points of view and perspectives of the
contributors gives lie to the myth that all alcoholics are alike.
These story-tellers all tell another
story - the story of their resilience and commitment to sobriety
regardless of the obstacles. Interestingly enough, most of them arrived at
a desire to act to change their circumstances and found the courage to
speak out about the injustices they suffered in AA after four or five
years of sobriety. |
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