“Social
thought on alcoholism can be classified into various traditions, all
of which have ignored the literature on social movements. In the
instance of what is known as the disease model, critics claim the
approach blames the alcoholic. The argument is presented that the
social movement perspective suggests that the victim of what passes
as the politics of social policy formation will be the organization,
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). It is noted that some describe A.A.
affiliations as resulting in social policy successes while others
warn that professionals in the alcoholism field must rid themselves
of AA's influence. The controversy surrounding the Rand Report (Armor
et al., 1978) is examined in that context. The findings related to
the differential treatment effectiveness of A.A. and professional
treatment are re-examined, which indicated that the Rand study could
have been interpreted as a document favourable to A.A. This
discussion is concerned with why A.A. was denied what could have been
a major victory.”
“In
summary, this paper questioned the notion that certain traditions in
social thought on alcoholism result in blaming the individual
alcoholic. The argument was made that AA, the organization, has been
both a hero and villain in the literature and ultimately may
become the victim because of its members' relationships with more
powerful professional groups. Studies which suggested how
indigenous persons and groups are coopted through their employment as
paraprofessionals were cited to bolster that point. A re analysis of
the Rand Report (Armor et al., 1978) data related to the
differential effectiveness of AA and professional treatment was
presented. The results were interpreted to suggest that AA and its
members were denied a major victory concerning that organization's
role in obtaining abstinence as a treatment outcome. The conclusion
is that there is internal fragmentation in the various traditions
(Watts, 1982) identified in social thought related to alcoholism. If
self-help groups like AA are to continue to exist as autonomous
entities, public policy must encompass the disease approach, one
which allows alcoholics to assume responsibility for alcoholism
without involvement in policy level decisions.”
(our
emphases)
Source:
Social Thought, Social Movements and Alcoholism: Some Implications of AA's Linkage with Other Entities, Fry LJ, Journal of Drug Issues, Vol.
15(1), 135-147, 1985
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