Any book which can show you how to have a spiritual awakening will do the trick. There must be some, but I have not found one yet – simply because once “Alcoholics Anonymous” accomplished showing me how to have the awakening – I did and there was no need for redundancy since all of my problems were solved. I can’t imagine why you would want to omit that book from your search since it is so effective and fast acting and alcoholics haven’t got a whole lot of time or options.

But you don’t have to swallow the whole book at once – at least not until your alkie finance decides he needs it. What I suggest is he get himself a copy of “Alcoholics Anonymous” and read the first 43 pages, which is designed to help him – not YOU – make a determination whether or not AA is for him. In other words, “Is he REALLY an alcoholic?”

He may not be. In fact the chances are good he is NOT. (Only roughly 10% of the world population actually is.) If you are, its like winning the lottery with odds like that . (Because we have a solution.)

Unless I had LEARNED to answer that question – it was impossible to know if I was “In the right place” – AA members say they don’t like to proclaim individuals as alcoholic (Those don’t betray their own precepts that is.) — so I had to do it myself.

Luckily the book showed me how, just as it was designed to do. You will not learn this vital stuff in AA meetings – so he should be careful not to rely upon those much. Meetings may help heavy drinking non-alcoholics who THINK they are “alcoholics” stop drinking – but it will KILL him if he is the real McCoy.

Then when HE decides that Her is “One of us”, or if there is anything he does not understand about how to make that determination, tomorrow he should go to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and get a sponsor who has experience in taking others through the 12 steps and identifies him/herself as someone who has has recovered.

If someone says they are still “recovering” he should politely pass, and keep looking till he finds someone for whom the Program has actually worked.

Have him disregard how “Nice” or “Knowledgeable” the “Still recovering” person seems. “Still recovering” is the same as “Unrecovered”. If he wants to be that person’s friend, fine – but he should not fall under their sponsorship – unless they have recovered from alcoholism. “Not drinking” today does not count. He may NEVER drink again and this persons method to stop may KILL him – as earnest and nice as they seem and as well as their method seems to be working for them.

His sponsor will refer to him/herself as “RECOVERED”

He’ll know EXACTLY what to do with him from there, and he can trust that without reservation. WARNING: These knowledgeable people can be a chore to find – even in AA meetings, unfortunately. But he should not give up – if he shows up as a student – the teacher will show up too.

He should not allow anyone to sponsor him whose solution is “don’t drink and go to meetings”, or “Just don’t drink” or “One day at a time”. These concepts are not part of our Program, but they are rampant never the less. If that is their solution, and it works for them, it may KILL him , if he are a real alcoholic as described in those first 43 pages.

If he determines from that book that he is “Real alcoholic” then that kind of advice does not work. Never has, no matter what they tell him.

If anyone tells him that he “Isn’t ready to take the steps” he should RUN! If anyone tells him they did it slowly, therefore so can he – he should RUN! They may not be “one of us”.

If anyone tells him that he IS an alcoholic, just because he showed up.He should RUN! We don’t like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic. HE must ascertain it HIMSELF, by those 43 pages.

He should take the 12 steps as fast as he possibly can. It IS a race. He must recover before the next first drink comes along, and not let anyone tell him that THEY know when that is for him . He do not have to be prey to arrogance.

And then after he has worked the Program in the book, and the desire to drink has left, (That’s a promise that it will), then he will be in a position to go find another alcoholic to work with as his sponsor has done and pass it on to another in the position he is in now.

Soon he will be free from alcohol, sponsoring others and joining us in the trenches. His life will have become usefully happy and whole.

He could be recovered and enjoying the life by this 4th of July. Now THAT’S simple.

You mentioned “addictions” – So, what would I tell a drug addict?

Nothing. Although I’ve abused a lot of drugs, especially cocaine, I don’t know a thing about recovering from drug addiction — because I have NEVER DONE IT.

I put the drugs down on my own willpower and didn’t need any help with it. Over alcohol I was powerless and had to find a new power. I found it through the AA Fellowship which deliver the 12 Steps to me. When I picked it up, I recovered. That “It” is God.

If I can be helpful in any way, please find and contact me. I would love it! It is always an honor to serve another drunk.

Good Luck,

Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com/