Unfortunately, AA does not embrace dietary modification as they are only concerned with The 12 Steps and consistent attendance at AA meetings. Very few members of AA seek help for the underlying cause of their alcoholism. AA members have very little knowledge about nutritional and mental health to ensure long term sobriety. I’ve met thousands of people over the 30 years since my induction into AA. They are anti-drugs, especially antidepressants and mood disorder medications. The majority of AA members are not aware that sugar is the catalyst for food addiction and their drug of choice, once they become sober. They swap “the witch for the bitch” and many become obese in early recovery. AA’s rooms were filled to capacity 30 years ago but numbers are dwindling today because science has resolved many issues associated with alcoholism. Alcohol is only a symptom of an underlying problem and that problem is often a mental disorder combined with an allergic reaction to alcohol. Recovery involves a holistic approach including supplements to balance the brain chemistry, medical intervention to assess underlying mental health issues, nutritional knowledge regarding the alcoholic’s reaction to sugar and gluten intolerance, counselling to change neural pathways to the brain and, of course, group support.
Wendy Perkins, Special Addictions Counsellor