Does He Really Want to Stop?

Chapter: Three

Page: 34

Step we are on: Step One

Subject: Moderation, Potential Alcoholic

Read Time: 1.5 minutes

• Even though a real alcoholic may decide to quit for a year, how soon will most of them return to drinking?

Some will be drunk the day after making their resolutions; most of them within a few weeks.

• If a person can’t drink moderately, what is the question?

For those who are unable to drink moderately the question is how to stop altogether.

Moderate - to regulate, kept or staying within reasonable bounds, not extreme or excessive - The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

• What does this question assume?

We are assuming, of course, that the reader desires to stop.


If you have recovered from alcoholism and if you sponsor people in order to carry the "this message" to others, your avocation will be much more efficient if you realize that  . . .

NOT ALL ALCOHOLICS WANT TO STOP DRINKING

 . . .  and in fact, never will! 

They may need to stop, the wellness of their families, their livelihood and health may hinge upon their stopping. Their very words and attitudes may clearly convey that they wish no harm upon others through their continued drinking.

Yet, still, they will not truly want to stop and they will destroy their lives plus the lives of those around them in order to continue drinking.

Such types can "'sincerely want to want" to stop.  But that's NOT the same as "want" to stop — and as sincere and as "nice" as they may appear in your presence and when attending AA meetings, you won't be able to help this person take the drastic actions necessary.


God-consciousness, recovery, sobriety, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness isn't pursued by everyone who needs it and most alcoholics are going to die unrecovered, miserable and sick.  Meetings or none. Big Books or not. Twelve Step recovery and spiritual eruditeness or not. 

TOMORROW:

How can it be determined whether or not a person can quit, for good and all, on a non-spiritual basis?

Peace & Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com