Why AA Isn't Hip

Some of my clients are young problem drinkers whose alcohol abuse is severe enough to warrant their own concern. They come to me and other psychotherapists with the hope that they can gain control over their drinking habit which seems to be winning. Addicts they are not, they say, it’s just a matter of learning why they drink so much and to reassess their priorities and values. The objective is to no longer feel as if they are controlled by alcohol. Most are above average in intelligence with a promising future in one of the creative professions. Before seeking therapy, they have tried to stop drinking on their own and/or have gone to Alcoholics Anonymous for support, some repeatedly. Most of these clients stop going to AA for several reasons.Many complain that the atmosphere is depressing and off-putting. They feel they have little or no common with the majority of other AA members, besides alcohol. To them the typical AA goer is a wizened old timer who appears to have no other options other than to stop drinking entirely and attend AA meetings round the clock. Unlike them, my clients feel they still have options, and they feel they can re-learn to drink moderately, after a period of abstinence. 

I would like to address that sentiment with the following:

It's true that many people in AA are older and even just plain old. AA was originally intended for serious alcoholics who had bottomed out over and over again, meaning nothing else helped them to stop drinking. AA worked because it was a refuge, a place of last resort. It accepted them for who they are, and they found community. 

AA is still around because it does help serious alcoholics recover from active alcoholism and maintain sobriety through community. One reason why you see more older people is that older addicts are more likely to abstain for reasons that are connected to poor health resulting from years of sustained abuse. They may die if they continue to drink, and so they NEED the AA community to not drink again. Also, dealing with or avoiding consequences of addiction is exhausting, and older addicts are emotionally and mentally TIRED from running.

Having said that, it does not mean there is no place for younger people in AA. Which reminds me, there is a great independent feature that deals with this: it's called Smashed.

The role of AA for problem drinkers will be continued...