AA

My mother, dead now, was one of the first women to get sober through AA in 1949. That saved my life. AA has its problems as far as the rules and demands made on it's members. But it certainly saved many lives. Back in the day it was just "come to meetings". At age 8 I would go with my mother when she brought a bottle to a member's home and then she would bring me to the AA clubhouse where "Pop" would make dinner- for free to everyone- contributions accepted. Some of my patients thrive in AA and other 12 step programs, and others need a different approach. Hopefully our skills help our clients speak about their ambivalence about drug and alcohol use, without imposing our agenda as to which is the "best" way for them to recover.