Recently I was given the chance by Stony Brook University to view the film called the “Anonymous People”. I went to this event without any prior knowledge of the content being shown in the film. It is a film/documentary that is centered on alcoholics/substance abusers and the importance of giving them access to recovery programs. The effects of being an alcoholic or substance abuser are like any other chronic disease and not being able to get treatment is unjust. The beginning of the film showed a man talking about secrets, he stated, if secrets are brought to light they will die, but if hidden they will continue to grow. This is a hidden message exposing the importance of going to meetings such as the Alcoholics Anonymous. It is essential …show more content…
A lot of people were raised in a culture where alcohol is part of socializing and it is considered to be normal. These individuals would have trouble accepting that it is an issue and a risk to their mental and physical well-being. Many claim to be social drinkers; it is a way to interact in a social environment such as a dinner or party. In the concept of spirituality, AA meetings and such are proven to provide a positive relationship with self-esteem, self-efficacy, hope, optimism and the general well being. Being able to openly speak about a problem in which you face allows your body and mind to accept things for the way they are. It allows a movement to spark to make a difference in your life. As human beings, we tend to not like being alone but once you realize you’re not the only one you will be able to understand. In conclusion, when’s the best time to help an addict? Now. This film stresses the importance of being proactive, not reactive and also providing pre-care and aftercare. People in jail tend to believe that it’s a way of life, but it’s not you can get help. What our society needs are strong leaders who can carry out of tasks of raising awareness and fighting for rights. There should be collegiate recovery program, prevention at high school and college level. They must be given employment opportunities and adequate living arrangements. Lives saved voices are out there. History is on our side. “Silence equals
Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship worldwide consisting of over one hundred thousand men and women who are alcoholics, banded together in solving a common problem and in helping fellow alcohol users in their recovery from alcoholism. A.A.'s twelve steps are considered a list of principles which are spiritual in their nature, and if practiced as a way of life by members, can help significantly in expelling a member’s obsession to drink, and enable a holistic awareness. Step one is when the member admits they are powerless over the use of alcohol, resulting in an unmanageable life. No one wants to admit defeat, but admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the first step in becoming liberated. Step two is having a belief that the almighty power can restore their sanity. Step three is making the decision to turn their will and life over in the protection of the almighty God, which is the key to willingness of change as noted by the Twelve Steps of recovery. Step four is...
Within our society, there is a gleaming stigma against the drug addicted. We have been taught to believe that if someone uses drugs and commits a crime they should be locked away and shunned for their lifetime. Their past continues to haunt them, even if they have changed their old addictive ways. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, so why do we outcast someone who struggles with this horrible disease? Drug addiction and crime can destroy lives and rip apart families. Drug courts give individuals an opportunity to repair the wreckage of their past and mend what was once lost. Throughout this paper, I will demonstrate why drug courts are more beneficial to an addict than lengthy prison sentences.
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
It was on January 24, 1971, that Bill, a victim of pneumonia, died in Miami Beach, Florida, where he had delivered at the 35th Anniversary International Convention what proved to be his last words to fellow A.A.s: “God bless you and Alcoholics Anonymous forever” (Pitman 120). Since then, A.A. has become truly global. This has revealed that A.A.’s way of life can today transcend most barriers of race, creed and language (Wekesser 87). A World Service Meeting, started in 1969, has been held biennially since 1972. Its locations alternate between New York and overseas. It has met in London, England; Helsinki, Finland; San Juan del Rio, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Munich, Germany and Cartagena, Colombia. These meetings and their locations have gone to show the global impact A.A. has achieved. The Akron A.A. team of Dr. Bob, Bill, and Anne has never been equaled in personal, spiritual recovery outreach. It was truly the heart of A.A.’s spiritual beginnings (Pitman 124).
She has indirectly experienced addiction through multiple family members, therefore acquiring the ability to care for addicts in her hometown. Adela feels she has a responsibility to attend to those who are in dire need of treatment, especially since there is no longer a treatment center in the area. The local detox attendant makes a devoted effort to “push back against hegemonic sociocultural forces” by redefining care as a component of understanding, compassion and love. With this transformation, heroin addicts gain jurisdiction of their own bodies and a “greater say over the shape of their own subjectivities (Kohrman 2016). Individuals are no longer treated as prisoners of the state, yet as people with an illness. This particular account signifies hope in the Espanola Valley, despite the prevailing constraints that aims to criminalize a marginalized population for their issues. Professor Kohrman restates in his lecture that “hegemony’s victories are never final,” which is due to the presence of “multitude of resistances to ideological domination” (2016). Adela’s means of care resists the power of the clinical gaze, while investing in the health of the local people. Although heroin addiction in New Mexico is still a prevalent issue in today’s society, there seems to be an improvement in the quality of treatment when home detox
Within the German Democratic Republic, there was a secret police force known as the Stasi, which was responsible for state surveillance, attempting to permeate every facet of life. Agents within and informants tied to the Stasi were both feared and hated, as there was no true semblance of privacy for most citizens. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the movie The Lives of Others follows one particular Stasi agent as he carries out his mission to spy on a well-known writer and his lover. As the film progresses, the audience is able to see the moral transformation of Stasi Captain Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler primarily through the director 's use of the script, colors and lighting, and music.
The AA meeting I attended took place at a church. The church that holds the meeting has a beginner AA meeting that meets Monday nights at 7 pm. However, I decided to go to the regularly meeting which takes place an hour later at 8 pm. I felt as though I would get more out of the regular meetings and get a sense of what regular AA members talk about. Before arriving at the meeting, I was a little anxious because I felt like as though I would be out of place, and I would be intruding on the members who come to the meetings for support. Also before attending, for some unknown reason, I imagined the meeting would to be similar to AA meeting featured in movies. Contrary to what I thought, the meeting was completely different. When I arrived at
I have never experienced what it would be like to be a part of an AA meeting. The only time I have had seen or heard someone mention meetings for alcoholics has been TV shows and movies, which would portray these meeting as a circle of strangers just deliberating stories of their life and how this disease has changed them forever. Therefore, I had no idea what to expect. I felt intimidated and had a sense of nervousness, so I decided I would not go alone and brought a friend. My expectation upon entering this meeting was to see beat up people with bad hygiene and a homeless appearance. As a matter of fact, the expectations I had upon walking towards this place was that I was going to get hit on and even get kidnapped. As crazy as it sounds, all these thoughts came through my mind particularly because of the type of environment I expected it to be. For the most part, I was wrong. I was actually surprised at what I witnessed and I came to realize that I was over-reacting. Upon arrival, there were people spread out; some talking together and some sitting alone. The room was nothing like I imagined. It wasn't an auditorium or a gym like they showed on TV. This place which I had imagined to be a dreadful enclosed surface with maniacal individuals turned out to be a small room with sofas and tables to make guests feel welcomed, with regular looking men and women appearing to be middle-aged. I thought "There has to be something wrong, I can’t be convinced that all these people who seem normal to me have an addiction problem with alcoholism". My friend and I took a seat by the door just in case we wanted to make a quick exit.
Before I attended an AA meeting, I did not realize the significance of AA and the twelve-step program. Now I understand how these group meetings were designed to influence an individual to remain sober, but also it was meant to use your voice and ask for help when needed. I was glad that I had the opportunity to attend an AA meeting because I was able to see first hand an alcoholic’s point of view. It helped me understand that the negative stereotype of an alcoholic is not true and that because of their disease, they are living in a world that they cannot mentally comprehend because of their inability to refrain from drinking.
Coming into the substance abuse meeting the student nurse was scared and nervous. She was scared of the reaction of the consumers and feared all the stereotypes she heard about typical alcoholics. Innervison gave the student nurse a new outlook on these types of consumers. She no longer looked at them as people who were just drunks and wanted to use AA as an excuse to make it seem like they are getting help. She never really looked at alcoholism as a true addiction; it seemed like more of an excuse to escape life’s problems. Sitting in and listening to these consumers gave the student nurse a dose of reality. The student nurse now understands alcoholism better and AA helped her realize recovery is truly a process that takes one day and one step at a time.
I watched this documentary twice, once by myself and once with my wife. I wanted to do this so I could get her viewpoint on the documentary and its effect on the male adolescence. Viewing this we both discussed the issues affecting young men from our different viewpoints and how our parents could raise us.
Students like myself have problems interacting socially, and drinking alleviates this constant want to curl up into the fetal position whenever they’re faced with speaking in public regardless of how many people are being spoken to. For some, it takes just a couple beers, and for others, it takes a six-pack and a couple shots of tequila to make them hate themselves enough to face another person socially and interact with them, being that they no longer have complete control of their actions at that point. This is usually what happens at frat parties and sororities, because being able to drink or smoke (depending where you live, smoking is not legal everywhere) around peers that do the same as you is a big deal; You feel like you fit in there because everyone around you is doing something in common with you, and that makes you feel like you fit
Let’s ask a question: why do people start using alcohol at the first place? And why they start doing it at such young age? Well, just “like other adult drinkers, college students expect alcohol to produce a series of positive effects – relaxation, socialization, sexuality – and the strength of these positive expectancies is related to drinking” (Walters & Baer, 2006). And who wouldn’t take a couple drinks to gain a group of friends? It lowers social inhibitions, so it is very well known among shy individuals as well. However, this activity can be also pressurized by peers. In this case, pressure wouldn’t be effective on people who do not accept or see positive aspects of occasional drinking. That means, everyone starts by saying ‘yes’ to a glass.
One factor that influences the consumption of alcohol is the need for social acceptance. Many people drink alcohol to fit in, as it helps people to gain confidence in social situations. People between the ages of 18 and 24 may feel pressured to go to parties and drink a lot of alcohol because it is the social norm. “Young people binge drink for fun, to relieve depression, to fit in, to look cool, because of ...
Alcoholism is defined as a pattern of drinking in which harmful consequences result for the drinker, yet, they continue to drink. There are two types of drinkers. The first type, the casual or social drinker, drinks because they want to. They drink with a friend or with a group for pleasure and only on occasion. The other type, the compulsive drinker, drinks because they have to, despite the adverse effects that drinking has on their lives.