Can AA Help Those Addicted to Alcohol?

Addiction is such a devastating disease because it disguises itself as a cure. Alcohol can numb the pain, hide anxieties and depression, and fast-forward the most traumatic parts of life. Many people don’t see a way out of addiction because they don’t fully understand how and why they became addicted in the first place. A prevailing theory is that drugs and alcohol are just such powerful chemicals that one taste will hijack our minds and bodies forever but this doesn’t address a lot of the obvious discrepancies. For example, why did we try drugs and alcohol in the first place? Or why can we relapse after we purge ourselves through detox? The truth is, alcoholism is brought on by a series of fractures in our mind, body, and social life. Healing any part of ourselves can increase our resilience to drugs and alcohol, but healing all these aspects is the most direct and effective way to find true sobriety. Pairing Alcoholics Anonymous with traditional detox and rehab is a powerful way to make sure you’re receiving all the help you need to maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

Combining AA and Rehab & Detox

Our Drug and Alcohol rehab counselors in Orange County hear this question all the time, “is AA worth it if I’m already in detox?” Detox and rehabilitation is the fast, safe, and effective route to get back on your feet and feel in control of your life again. What AA offers is the long-term support to your recovery that can hold you accountable for your success, the social support you need in dark and desperate times, and the progressive goal-setting you need to continue to lead your recovery journey. Being surrounded by likeminded people going through the same struggles is the most powerful way to discredit all the stigma, fears, guilt, and shame that are so frequently attached to addiction. What better way to envision your recovery than to meet people who’ve experienced similar life hardships and blossomed into a stronger, more enduring and endearing person?

Alcoholics Anonymous also has an amazing support network at AA.org with centers, meetings, and individuals throughout the globe. Even if you end up moving across the state or out of the country, you can always find the support and encouragement to thrive anywhere in the world. Their 12-step system and accountability not only provides you clear markers to track your progress but also gives you the motivation and inspiration to endure the toughest parts of recovery.

Does AA Work?

Studies show that people who do commit to AA have a higher rate of sobriety long-term, and more likely to complete detox and therapy. Beating addiction is never an instantaneous or perfect process. Our individual addictions are reflections of the hardships in our lives and the tools we’ve learned to endure and overcome those hardships. Not everyone sticks to rehab, detox, or AA as long or as perfectly as recommended. We can all have off-days and sudden hardships that throw us off-track, which is why it’s important to have a roadmap and rulebook when we start our journey to sobriety.

How Do I Get Started with AA?

If you’re ready to start your recovery journey, or if you’re looking to learn more about the process and where to begin, we always encourage you to speak to one of our drug addiction specialists to put together the perfect plan for your recovery.