Addiction is a problem for societies around the world. It affects the lives of people who care about us. But, it’s a very complex problem in which genetic, social, familial, and other factors create an illness that is hard to overcome.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a non-professional American organization founded in 1935 dedicated to helping people overcome alcohol addiction through support groups.
AA’s teachings have a strong spiritual component that reflects the religious beliefs of its founders. In this article, we’ll explore how AA’s definition of addiction differs from other health organizations and why it can provide value to people trying to overcome their alcoholism.
The Traditional Definitions Of Addiction & Alcoholism
The National Health Service (NHS) defines addiction as “not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.” This definition is most commonly associated with behaviors such as gambling, drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
However, people can be addicted to almost anything, including internet use, work, shopping, and more.
The NHS also defines alcohol misuse as drinking “in a harmful way, or when you’re dependent on alcohol.” To minimize the health risks of alcohol, the CDC recommends moderate alcohol consumption, which means 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women.
One drink, according to the CDC, means:
- 12 ounces of beer (5% ABV)
- 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% ABV)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% ABV)
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% ABV)
*ABV means alcohol by volume.
Alcoholics Anonymous’ Definition Of Addiction
AA has a three-part definition of addiction. This doesn’t mean it’s “better” or “worse.” It’s a different perspective that may be useful for some people struggling with alcoholism.
AA (and similar groups such as Narcotics Anonymous) has a definition of addiction that involves the following elements:
- Physical
- Mental
- Spiritual
Let’s explore them.
Physical Allergy
The first part of AA’s definition refers to the physical experience of being addicted to alcohol (and other substances).
In general, people who abuse alcohol tend to have poor physical health, suffer from anxiousness, poor cognition, dizziness, a higher risk of high blood pressure and liver disease, and more.
AA defines these physical symptoms as an “allergy.” An allergy is a condition that makes people sick or causes skin or breathing issues due to eating or being near substances they have become hypersensitive to.
This classification may, however, not be correct. Alcohol allergy or intolerance is a rare condition that causes adverse reactions after drinking alcohol, like a stuffy nose and skin flushing. It’s caused by the body’s inability to process alcohol. Alcoholics typically don’t suffer from alcohol intolerance.
While it may be helpful for some people to think of alcohol as something they must avoid, like a substance that makes them allergic, it’s important to recognize that alcoholism is not the same as having an alcohol allergy.
This idea was proposed in the 1930s, almost 100 years ago.
We know much more about allergies today and can confirm that classifying alcohol addiction as an allergy is incorrect.
Mental Obsession
The second part of AA’s definition is the mental fixation with consuming alcohol.
This “mental obsession” refers to the addict’s inability to see their substance of abuse as something harmful to avoid, but rather something good that makes them feel alleviated. They ignore or refuse to recognize that this comfort comes at the cost of their overall health.
“The Big Book” of AA describes the person struggling with alcoholism “at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink.” They cannot stop themselves, and all logical reasons why drinking is not a good idea are ignored.
In this sense, AA and modern medicine are an alignment. Scientific associations, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA), both recognize addiction as a “brain disease.”
Also, the DSM-V classifies addiction as a mental health condition called substance use disorder.
Spiritual Malady
This is the part of the definition where AA’s religious and spiritual background shows the most. According to AA beliefs, addiction is, at its core, a spiritual disorder, disease, or ailment.
The spirit is often understood as the characteristics of a person separate from the body, which is the seat of our emotions and overall character. In this sense, AA’s definition of addiction may be considered an illness of the soul, which spreads through all other aspects of our lives.
AA’s strong emphasis on spirituality may be problematic for some people, and it’s one of the reasons many may have trouble following the 12 Steps.
But for people who have spiritual beliefs or are willing to engage with that side of themselves, it can be powerful to know that AA’s methods connect closely with their values.
Finding Help Beyond Definitions
Whatever your definition of addiction is, it must recognize that it is a challenge that needs to be overcome. The method you use to overcome it should take into account the multiple factors that come to play in addiction and help address them to achieve long-term sobriety.
If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol addiction, consider talking to a professional about it. Alcoholism is a progressive disease that can cause many disturbances in your private and professional life and can also be fatal when not treated. Consider speaking to an addiction specialist to discuss treatment options.
