Alcoholics anonymous

All the people I know with addiction problems in Iceland have spent time in state-run rehabilitation centers, something that is affordable here in Iceland thanks to the health-care system. That is not the case in the States. Instead, once-a-week AA meeting model is pressed into service, usually by court order for a specific period of time. I would also say that AA meetings have worked themself into the fabric of American culture. Many TV shows include a scene where a person stands up and says their name, says how long they have been clean. Confession in a group setting, and the realization that everyone in the room has the same problems, is supposed to be very helpful, make people feel better about themselves and open up. Among those I know, sometimes this has helped for a while, sometimes not at all. I wish it would have helped my brother a little bit more than it did.  

Comments

Ko-Leen said…
one form of help will not help everyone, this is a problem with the system.
March 5, 2009 at 7:56 PM
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