At the bottom of the bottle
Two young members of Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia talk about how the self-help organisation has empowered them to get their lives back on track.
Alcoholism is defined as an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic drinks, and it is a huge problem in Namibia. The youth experiment with alcohol, not knowing that it is a dangerous habit that can spiral out of control very quickly.
Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia (AAN) is non-governmental and self-supporting organisation that serves as group therapy for alcoholics. Members of the organisation, who are called “fellows”, are united by the desire to stop drinking.
Alcoholic Anonymous worldwide does not engage in public fundraising activities and it is fully self-funded. Anybody claiming to collect money under the name of Alcoholic Anonymous is committing a crime and should be reported to the authorities.
In February, a letter surfaced in Namibia that used the name of Alcoholic Anonymous to solicit funds. AAN was advised to open a criminal case, since the letter amounted to fraud.
Although it was the first time that had happened in Namibia, the public was warned to be on the lookout for such scams and report them immediately.
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 in Ohio in the United States with the primary purpose “to help alcoholics stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety”.
Windhoek has a fully functioning group. The only requirements for membership are admitting you have a problem and the wish to stay sober.
“We all have the same problem and that is why we are united,” says Amanda*, a member of AA.
“You may be a lawyer or doctor on the outside, but when you come inside the four walls of Alcoholic Anonymous, we are all alcoholics looking to stay sober.”
According to Timothy*, another member of Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia, the reason why most rehabilitation centres fail is because addicts check into these institutions with the wrong mindset.
They believe that after spending time in rehab they will be cured of their addiction and can go back to their former lives without changing their circle of friends or areas of interest where they choose to spend their time.
“A rehabilitation centre is there to take someone out of their immediate environment. So what happens when your time ends at the centre? You have to go back to a world full of temptation and all these negative influences.
“That is why it is important to have a support group like AA to help you stay sober,” Timothy explains.
Having been to three rehabilitation centres herself, Amanda says only AA has managed to get her sober and keep her sober for the past seven years.
“Listening to another alcoholic speak about something we can both relate to is therapy on its own already,” she says.
“I was always the black sheep until I walked into AA and then I found the rest of my flock.”
Whatever kind of addiction it may be, the addict needs to take the first step and admit to having a problem.
Excessive drinking has become acceptable in Namibian society, and it is difficult for alcoholics to realise they have a problem when consuming large amounts of alcohol is the norm.
“If it is a baptism, a funeral or an ordinary get-together, everything always ends up in a party. Simply because of alcohol,” Timothy says.
Young people living in such circumstances grow up accepting alcohol as something that is part of their lives. This is one of the reasons why many children start drinking at an early age, as it socially acceptable and boys in particular are encouraged to drink from an early age.
Timothy says this is one reason why AA has found it difficult to set up fellowships in other towns, as those communities are not interested and they do not want to be labelled as alcoholics.
“Whenever we would have open meetings, only the families of the alcoholics would come,” says Timothy.
AA has tried establishing groups in several towns outside Windhoek, but none of them managed to stay active for any length of time.
He feels that most people do not understand the programme and many alcoholics are looking for a shortcut to dealing with their addiction.
Born into an alcoholic family, Timothy blames peer pressure for leading young people onto the wrong path. He started drinking at a young age and after he started working, his drinking went from bad to worse because he had more money to spend on booze.
“Sometimes, I would go to work or I would not pitch up at all,” he says. He was involved in a number of car crashes, yet not even that could convince him to stop drinking, as alcohol had consumed his life.
It took a lot of courage to finally realise he that he had a problem and that alcohol was ruling, and ruining, his life. He took the first step by attending an AA meeting and has never looked back.
Timothy says young people feel pressured to drink in order to fit into cliques at school or university, and drinking then becomes a habit and, ultimately, an addiction.
He has been sober for eight years now and encourages fellow youth with a drinking problem to attend AA meetings.
Amanda says her drinking problem also started at an early age. “Growing up, I was a very shy girl and alcohol was the boost that I needed. It made me social and I had more courage to do different things. I would always be the life of the party under the influence of alcohol,” she says.
She started drinking alone and lived a miserable life, which led her to attempt suicide a few times. She then realised that she needed to turn her life around and AA meetings have helped her to get her life back on track.
“Alcoholic Anonymous is calling on everyone with a drinking problem and wishes to be the custodian of change.
“We specifically target the youth because that is where the problem lies. AA is not a secret society. On our website, we have listed our meetings with our dates and times.
“There is no cure for alcoholism, but we can work together to make sure you do not have to pick up that first drink,” Timothy says.
If you know anyone with an alcohol problem or you need help yourself, contact Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia on 081 325 6144.
*Not their real names
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia (AAN) is non-governmental and self-supporting organisation that serves as group therapy for alcoholics. Members of the organisation, who are called “fellows”, are united by the desire to stop drinking.
Alcoholic Anonymous worldwide does not engage in public fundraising activities and it is fully self-funded. Anybody claiming to collect money under the name of Alcoholic Anonymous is committing a crime and should be reported to the authorities.
In February, a letter surfaced in Namibia that used the name of Alcoholic Anonymous to solicit funds. AAN was advised to open a criminal case, since the letter amounted to fraud.
Although it was the first time that had happened in Namibia, the public was warned to be on the lookout for such scams and report them immediately.
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 in Ohio in the United States with the primary purpose “to help alcoholics stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety”.
Windhoek has a fully functioning group. The only requirements for membership are admitting you have a problem and the wish to stay sober.
“We all have the same problem and that is why we are united,” says Amanda*, a member of AA.
“You may be a lawyer or doctor on the outside, but when you come inside the four walls of Alcoholic Anonymous, we are all alcoholics looking to stay sober.”
According to Timothy*, another member of Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia, the reason why most rehabilitation centres fail is because addicts check into these institutions with the wrong mindset.
They believe that after spending time in rehab they will be cured of their addiction and can go back to their former lives without changing their circle of friends or areas of interest where they choose to spend their time.
“A rehabilitation centre is there to take someone out of their immediate environment. So what happens when your time ends at the centre? You have to go back to a world full of temptation and all these negative influences.
“That is why it is important to have a support group like AA to help you stay sober,” Timothy explains.
Having been to three rehabilitation centres herself, Amanda says only AA has managed to get her sober and keep her sober for the past seven years.
“Listening to another alcoholic speak about something we can both relate to is therapy on its own already,” she says.
“I was always the black sheep until I walked into AA and then I found the rest of my flock.”
Whatever kind of addiction it may be, the addict needs to take the first step and admit to having a problem.
Excessive drinking has become acceptable in Namibian society, and it is difficult for alcoholics to realise they have a problem when consuming large amounts of alcohol is the norm.
“If it is a baptism, a funeral or an ordinary get-together, everything always ends up in a party. Simply because of alcohol,” Timothy says.
Young people living in such circumstances grow up accepting alcohol as something that is part of their lives. This is one of the reasons why many children start drinking at an early age, as it socially acceptable and boys in particular are encouraged to drink from an early age.
Timothy says this is one reason why AA has found it difficult to set up fellowships in other towns, as those communities are not interested and they do not want to be labelled as alcoholics.
“Whenever we would have open meetings, only the families of the alcoholics would come,” says Timothy.
AA has tried establishing groups in several towns outside Windhoek, but none of them managed to stay active for any length of time.
He feels that most people do not understand the programme and many alcoholics are looking for a shortcut to dealing with their addiction.
Born into an alcoholic family, Timothy blames peer pressure for leading young people onto the wrong path. He started drinking at a young age and after he started working, his drinking went from bad to worse because he had more money to spend on booze.
“Sometimes, I would go to work or I would not pitch up at all,” he says. He was involved in a number of car crashes, yet not even that could convince him to stop drinking, as alcohol had consumed his life.
It took a lot of courage to finally realise he that he had a problem and that alcohol was ruling, and ruining, his life. He took the first step by attending an AA meeting and has never looked back.
Timothy says young people feel pressured to drink in order to fit into cliques at school or university, and drinking then becomes a habit and, ultimately, an addiction.
He has been sober for eight years now and encourages fellow youth with a drinking problem to attend AA meetings.
Amanda says her drinking problem also started at an early age. “Growing up, I was a very shy girl and alcohol was the boost that I needed. It made me social and I had more courage to do different things. I would always be the life of the party under the influence of alcohol,” she says.
She started drinking alone and lived a miserable life, which led her to attempt suicide a few times. She then realised that she needed to turn her life around and AA meetings have helped her to get her life back on track.
“Alcoholic Anonymous is calling on everyone with a drinking problem and wishes to be the custodian of change.
“We specifically target the youth because that is where the problem lies. AA is not a secret society. On our website, we have listed our meetings with our dates and times.
“There is no cure for alcoholism, but we can work together to make sure you do not have to pick up that first drink,” Timothy says.
If you know anyone with an alcohol problem or you need help yourself, contact Alcoholic Anonymous Namibia on 081 325 6144.
*Not their real names
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
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