Being Alcoholic
 

Early AA members worked in trying to help everyone to have a real understanding of alcoholics. Their message was this. That the alcoholic is sick not criminal, alcoholics are worth saving, and we have an obligation to help. Alcoholics are like other people in many ways but differ in certain ways. It is from these differences there is born a world of misunderstanding about alcoholics for themselves and for others. The idea has to be smashed that alcoholics can be made to be like other people that's never worked. What's helpful is understanding alcoholics need and want help, not losing sight of the alcoholics real problem due to the other troubles that come from being alcoholic, and knowing that many people considered to be great and in recovery are alcoholics who have benefited from this real understanding of what it is to be alcoholic.