One night 40 years ago, after being urged by his wife, Riverland man Mike picked up the phone and called Alcoholics Anonymous for the first time.
Key points:
- Alcoholics Anonymous meetings have been disrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns
- Members are worried people who need support are missing out
- Researchers say a lack of face-to-face connection with others can hinder the progress for recovering alcoholics
It wasn’t to inquire about meeting times, he just wanted the answer to one question: what is the definition of an alcoholic?
“I was hit bluntly and told they don’t give out information like that,” he said.
“I was told if you’ve got a problem take the cotton wool out of your ears, stick it in your mouth, and come to meetings and see if you identify with others.
“We don’t tell people they are an alcoholic or you aren’t an alcoholic. We leave that up to the individual to decide themselves.”
After letting the man on the other end of the line’s words sink in, Mike told him he was going to hang up and go to bed.
That phone call led to Mike eventually heading to an AA meeting. He’s been sober ever since and now plays a key role in the organisation in the Riverland.
He credits the consistent association with AA for not falling back into a drinking habit, but he’s worried COVID-19 is hindering others’ hopes of a sober life.
Meeting changes makes finding new members harder
Lockdowns and restrictions on gatherings have meant the regular meeting places for the group have had to change and sometimes gone online.
“One of the old-timers used to say meetings are the answer and I believe that too,” Mike said.
Mike said the intermittent move to online meetings meant prospective new members were finding it harder to get involved and turn their lives around.
“When the lockdowns came in we had to get on Zoom and have meetings where you had to be an AA member to get on — unless a member is sponsoring a newcomer,” he said.
“It does make it harder because how do you get to know the people who drink too much unless they phone you up?”
‘Telling your story’ vital to progress
University of Adelaide addiction medicine expert Robert Ali serves on the World Health Organisation’s Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence and Alcohol Problems and the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs.
Dr Ali said the pandemic had created major obstacles for both group-based and clinical alcohol intervention programs.
“Losing face-to-face contact, being amongst your colleagues who are helping to support you can have serious and profound consequences — particularly for those who are vulnerable and on the edge,” he said.
“Telling your story and talking about the challenges you’re facing at the time is a way of connecting your brain to your thoughts.
Dr Ali added that while it had been difficult to find alcoholism treatments during the pandemic the same as face-to-face contact, there was still effective support out there.
“Computers don’t do the best, we’ve done telephone support, we’ve done video counselling support, but it doesn’t replace human contact,” he said.
“There’s confidential free counselling available through the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1300 13 13 40.
“You can talk to somebody about the problems you’re experiencing and they can provide you with support and guidance about what resources are available.