The Spiritual Malady Versus the Medical Disease – Norma A.

About This Speaker Tape

The line between a spiritual fellowship and a professional industry is a dangerous one. Norma A. breaks down Tradition 6 warning that when AA groups start chasing government grants tax-free money or the prestige of 'alcoholism counselor' titles they risk losing their soul.

She shares a chilling account of a newcomer who died after taking medical advice from 'experienced' members and flushing her seizure medications illustrating why AAs must stick to sharing experience strength and hope rather than playing doctor. From the dangers of 'AA hospitals' and the lure of distillery public relations jobs to the necessity of cooperating with treatment centers without becoming affiliated with them Norma A. argues that the fellowship's power lies in its simplicity: one alcoholic talking to another stripped of corporate wealth and professional hats.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Norma A. distinguishes between a medical disease and a spiritual malady.
• 2:15 Discussion on the boundaries between AA and professional agencies like MHMR.
• 3:30 Story of the newcomer who died after following non-professional medical advice.
• 5:10 The 'drunk business' and the lure of government grant money for sober houses.
• 7:20 The 'professional hat' vs. the 'AA member hat' in meetings.
• 8:45 Why AA hospitals failed due to too many 'busybodies' and 'dictators'.
• 10:15 The distillery PR job and the risk to anonymity.
• 12:30 Reading from 'The Language of the Heart' regarding the danger of corporate wealth.
• 14:10 Bill W.'s views on the 'bottom of the heap' and the need for medical detox.
• 16:00 The role of education in preventing alcoholics from hitting a 'horribly mangled' bottom.