Page 64 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

MORE ABOUT ALCOHOLISM 43
been brought into a way of living infinitely more satis-
fying and, I hope, more useful than the life I lived
before. My old manner of life was by no means a bad
one, but I would not exchange its best moments for
the worst I have now. I would not go back to it even
if I could.’’
Fred’s story speaks for itself. We hope it strikes
home to thousands like him. He had felt only the first
nip of the wringer. Most alcoholics have to be pretty
badly mangled before they really commence to solve
their problems.
Many doctors and psychiatrists agree with our con-
clusions. One of these men, staff member of a world-
renowned hospital, recently made this statement to
some of us: “What you say about the general hopeless-
ness of the average alcoholic’s plight is, in my opinion,
correct. As to two of you men, whose stories I have
heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were
100% hopeless, apart from divine help. Had you of-
fered yourselves as patients at this hospital, I would
not have taken you, if I had been able to avoid it.
People like you are too heartbreaking. Though not a
religious person, I have profound respect for the
spiritual approach in such cases as yours. For most
cases, there is virtually no other solution.’’
Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no
effective mental defense against the first drink. Ex-
cept in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other
human being can provide such a defense. His defense
must come from a Higher Power.