Those who have been around AA for a while would say: “They want to want to stop.” These drinkers have moved beyond the second stage; they have lost friends, cannot keep jobs, and find various intimate relationships in ruins. Perhaps doctors have been consulted, and the weary round of “drying out” places and hospitals has begun.

They realise full well that they cannot drink normally, but are unable to understand why. They honestly want to stop, but cannot. No one seems to able to help them stay sober. In searching for a path to sobriety, they become increasingly desperate. Usually, they have tried some form of counselling and perhaps some special diet or vitamin therapy, and for a little while the situation may be improved, but then the progression downward continues. They lose all interest in constructive social relationships, in the world around them, and perhaps even in life itself. The only emotion they show with any consistency is self-pity.

In this stage, drinkers may seem beyond help. By now, they have been in one institution after another. Often violent, they appear insane or oblivious to reality when drunk. Sometimes, they may even manage to sneak a drink on the way home from the hospital. They may have alcoholic hallucinations- delirium tremens (D.T.s).

At this point, doctors may advise you to have the drinker committed to an institution. Perhaps you have already had to do so. In many ways, these drinkers seem to be “hopeless.” But AA experience has shown that however far down the ladder of alcoholism drinkers have gone, very few have passed beyond the hope of recovery in AA – that is, if they want to recover.

The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.