According to recent statistics, over 95,000 Americans die each year from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The Toll of Excessive Drinking
Excessive alcohol use, including binge drinking, heavy drinking, and underage drinking, leads to approximately 88,000 deaths per year nationwide. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men. Binge drinking is most common among young adults aged 18–34 years old.
While consuming alcohol in moderation may pose little harm to some, others struggle with controlling intake or become physically dependent. Seeking help through counseling and support groups can help achieve and maintain sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings provide a free and anonymous program of recovery from alcoholism through peer support.
How AA Works: The 12 Steps of AA
The 12 Steps involve admitting you have a problem with alcohol, accepting that you need help from a higher power, making amends for past mistakes, and helping others with addiction. With the support of fellow members and a sponsor, you’ll gain insight into yourself and your addiction and develop coping strategies for staying sober.
- Admit you’re powerless over alcohol, and your life has become unmanageable. This is the first step to recovery.
- Believe that a power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity. Your higher power can be anything you choose.
- Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of your higher power. Let go of control and trust in your higher power.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself. Examine your life and relationships, then admit your wrongs.
- Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the exact nature of your wrongs. Share what you discovered in Step 4.
- Be ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Ask your higher power for help in overcoming shortcomings.
- Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings. Continue seeking help from your higher power.
- Make a list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make amends to them all. Identify people you hurt during addiction.
- Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others. Apologize and make things right unless it would cause harm.
- Continue to take personal inventory, and when you’re wrong, promptly admit it. Monitor your behavior and make corrections.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for you and the power to carry that out. Connect regularly with your higher power.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, try to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all your affairs. Help others and apply principles to all areas of your life.
What is The Success Rate of AA
The success rate of AA can be hard to determine precisely due to the anonymous nature of the program. There isn’t an exact success rate available since many of the results are published by AA and vary based on several factors.
Because AA is anonymous, some members of the group don’t participate in studies since it could breach the anonymity of the group. Many want their participation in AA to remain unidentified, in line with the group’s original intention.
Additionally, participants might not want to admit to relapse. A study conducted by AA in 2014 showed that 27% of the more than 6,000 members who participated in the study were sober for less than a year. In addition, 24% of the participants were sober for 1-5 years, while 13% were sober for 5-10 years. Fourteen percent of the participants were sober for 10-20 years, and 22% were sober for 20 or more years.
List of AA Meetings Within the Florham Area
Florham Park, New Jersey, has several AA meetings close by if you’re looking for help and support in your recovery.
The closest meeting is only 0.49 miles from Florham Park at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. They host meetings on Saturdays at 10:30 AM and 7:30 AM, as well as Fridays at 7:30 PM. This welcoming group provides a judgment-free zone to share your experience, find a sponsor, and work through the 12 steps.
If Saturdays don’t work with your schedule, there are other options. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is 1.2 miles away, with a Sunday meeting at 8 PM. There’s also a Monday women’s only meeting at 7:30 PM at St. Peter’s. Other AA meetings include:
You Are Already on The Right Path
Congratulations, you’ve decided to get help for your addiction. That first step is often the hardest, so you should feel proud of yourself for taking it. By reaching out to the Jersey Recovery Center, you are choosing to improve your life in a meaningful way. Our caring counselors and staff want to see you succeed.
We understand how difficult overcoming addiction can be, and we are here to offer guidance and support every step of the way. When you call us at (908) 913-7399, we will listen without judgment and help determine the best path forward based on your unique situation.
