Symptoms Leading to Relapse

A Checklist of Symptoms Leading to Relapse

[Take a Weekly Inventory to See If Symptoms Are Present]

 

1. Exhaustion  Allowing yourself to become overly tired or in poor health. Some alcoholics are also prone to work addiction (maybe they are in a hurry to make up for lost time). Good health and enough rest are important. If you feel well, you are more likely to think well. Feel poorly, and your thinking is more likely to deteriorate. Feel badly enough, and you might begin thinking that a drink couldn't make it any worse.

2. Dishonesty  This begins with a pattern of unnecessary little lies and deceits with fellow workers, friends, and' family. Then come important lies to yourself. This is called "rationalizing": making excuses for not doing what you do not want to do, or for doing what you know you should not do.

3. Impatience  Things are not happening fast enough. Or, others are not doing what they "should," or what you want them to do.

4. Argumentativeness  Arguing about small or ridiculous points of view indicates a need to always "be right". "Why don't you be reasonable, and agree with me?" Looking for an excuse to drink?

5. Depression Unreasonable or unaccountable feelings of despair may occur in cycles, and should be dealt with and talked about with sponsor and or professional.

6. Frustration  Toward self or others because things may not be going your way. Remember: everything is not always going to be just the way you want it.

7. Self-Pity  Why do these things happen to me?"   Why must I be an alcoholic?" "Nobody appreciates all I am doing." In other words, "Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink."

8 Cockiness  Got it made. No longer fear alcoholism. Going into drinking situations to prove you have no problem. Do this often enough and it will wear down your defenses.

9 Complacency  "Drinking was the farthest thing from my mind!" But, NOT drinking was no longer a conscious thought, either. It Is dangerous to let up on disciplines because everything is going well. To have a little fear is a good thing. More relapses occur when things are going well than otherwise.

10. Expecting Too Much From Others  "I've changed; why hasn't everyone else?" It's is plus if others do change, but, change or not, the business of recovery is your business. You cannot expect others to change their life-styles simply because you have.

11. Letting Up on Disciplines   In other words, letting up on prayer, meditation, daily inventory, AA attendance, etc. Letting up on these things can stem from complacency or boredom with your program. But the cost of relapse is always too great.

12. Use of Mood-Altering Chemicals  You may feel the need to ease things with a pill, and your doctor may go along with you. You may never have had a problem with chemicals other than alcohol, but you can easily lose sobriety starting thins way, about the most subtle way to have a relapse. Remember: you Will be cheating. The same is true for drug-dependant persons who start to drink.

13. Wanting Too Much  Do not set goals you cannot reach with normal effort. Do not expect too much. It's always great when good things happen that you were not expecting. You will get what you are entitled to, as long as you do your best, but maybe not as soon as you think you should. "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."

14. Forgetting Gratitude  You may be looking negatively on your life, concentrating on problems that still are not totally corrected. Nobody wants to be a "Pollyanna," but it is good to remember from where you started, and how far you've come already.

15. "It Can't Happen to Me"   This is dangerous thinking. Almost anything can happen to you, and it is more likely to happen if you become careless. Remember: alcoholism is a progressive disease, and you will be in worse shape if you relapse.

16. Omniscience   This is an attitude that results from a combination of many of the above: you now have all the answers for yourself and others.* No one can tell you anything. You ignore suggestions or advice from others. If such is the case, relapse is imminent unless drastic changes take place. ("Omniscience' is derived from two Latin words: "Omnia Scit," meaning: "He knows it all.") 

In addition to the above, ask yourself:

Do I have a recovery plan?
 
Am I carefully following that plan?
 
Have I let up on any part of that plan?
 

4th Step Tips

4th Step Tips
by Mike L.
"Carry THIS Message" Group
West Orange, NJ

The following is a list of tips and tools that may be helpful when doing your 4th or assisting your protégés with Step 4:

1. Keep It Simple!
2. During early sobriety, I heard much negativity spoken about the 4th Step that scared me. No wonder why people are scared to do this vital step. Shouldn't we try to encourage new people to do this step, which will put them on the path to freedom, rather than discourage them from doing it by making negative comments and instilling fear in them? Just a thought.
3. Emphasize the importance of writing the 4th Step inventory. There are a total of 17 references in the Big Book that suggest our 4th Step should be written. The word "written" is used 2 times (pages 70 & 75). The word "paper" is mentioned 3 times (pages 64, 68, & 69). Some form of the word "list" is given 10 times (pages 13, 64, 65, 66, 67 twice, 70 twice, & 76 twice). Page 67 says we placed our faults before us in black and white. And finally, page 65 gives an example of a written inventory.

Gee, I guess it's pretty important that we instruct our protégés to WRITE their inventory, huh?

4. Step 4 is the beginning of the treatment for our "spiritual malady", which is the root of our problem in Step 1. Other branches (symptoms) of Step 1 that stem from the root (spiritual malady) are the physical craving (which deals with the body) and the mental obsession (which deals with the mind). Page 64 says, "When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically." Upon completion of Step 4, we are well on our way to carrying out the solution (described to us in Steps 2 & 3) to our problem (in Step 1).
5. The Big Book instructs us to inventory three "common manifestations" of self-will: resentments, fears, and harms done to others (with emphasis on our sexual misconduct). (Remember, page 68 says we need an "overhauling" in the area of sex - not a minor tune-up! Honesty and thoroughness are key - the $19.95 Jiffy Lube Special won't fill the bill.)
6. Resentment inventory is most easily done in columns, as illustrated on page 65 of the Big Book. Experience proves that a 4-column-inventory format is the best. Even though page 65 gives an example of three columns, the instructions for writing the 4th column of "faults and mistakes" where we see the truth of our behavior are found on page 67. The column format allows the protégés to see patterns more easily. Most people benefit from writing their columns vertically. We write inventory vertically, but read inventory (during Step 5) horizontally. (NOTE: I used to instruct my protégés to use the 4-column format for all the inventories. Having done many 4th Steps over the years, my experience has been that the column format is best suited for resentment and fear inventory.

I now prefer writing sex/harms inventory by just answering the 9 questions found on page 69 in paragraphs. It has been easier and less restricting for me to do this part of the inventory in a horizontal "mini-essay" type format.) But beware: don't get caught up in technique and formats. When it comes to writing inventory, as Nike™ says, "JUST DO IT!"

7. "Should I put my name in column 1?" is a question often asked by protégés when doing Step 4. There is much debated on this subject over what is the "right" or "wrong" answer. I don't debate this issue. Some people need to list themselves as part of their inventory, others don't. How do I know if a person needs to put his/her name on their resentment list? If I tell them "No, you can't!" or "You MUST put your name at the top of the list!" aren't I "playing God"? In the 3rd Step I made a decision to quit playing God. So, I don't tell protégés who they should or shouldn't list on their inventory.

If I'm asked the question of "Should I list my name?" I ask the person, "Do you resent yourself?" If they say "yes" I then ask them "Why do you resent yourself?" Providing they can answer that question, I then tell them, "Well, I guess you should put yourself on the list because your first two columns are already complete. You're halfway finished. Why stop now!"

8. There are actually four inventories we should be writing as part of the 4th Step: "Resentments", "Fears", "Sex", and "Harms to Others". There are some people on my inventory that I harmed but I didn't resent them, fear them, nor have a sexual relationship with them. So if I hadn't done a "Harms to Others" inventory as page 70 suggests ("We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can.") then I would have missed important truths that needed to be on my inventory and shared in Step 5. And besides, when we get to Step 8 page 76 says, "We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory."
9. According to the Big Book, we do not write our "life story" in Step 4. It suggests we tell someone all our life story in Step 5 - NOT WRITE IT. As we're reading our 4th Step inventories to someone in Step 5, what we're actually doing is telling them our "life story". Looking back, my "life story" was as simple as this: Because of my selfishness and self-centeredness (the spiritual malady) I caused harms to other people. This caused me great fear. Because the fear became too intense for me to handle, ego caused me to "turn the tables" and become resentful toward those I had harmed, which made it look like others harmed me and I was innocent. This allowed me to block-out the harms I did to others and all I remembered were the resentments I had toward them. Most of my harms were caused within relationships. There's no wonder in my mind why this is true. What other "tools for living" do fearful and resentful people have? (No, suicide and homicide don't count! They're not "tools for living". They are "weapons of destruction"!) We do what we know best. So, I harmed others because of resentments, fears, and other defects stemming from selfishness and self-centeredness (spiritual malady). There! End of life story! Can I go home now?
10. Avoid inventorying your "assets" in Step 4. Our assets never got us into trouble. Our defects block us from God's Power, not our assets. Many people over the years have confused the first sentence from the following quote on page 46 of the 12 & 12: "The sponsor probably points out that the newcomer has some assets which can be noted along with his liabilities. This tends to clear away morbidity and encourage balance. As soon as he begins to be more objective, the newcomer can fearlessly, rather than fearfully, look at his own defects." Somehow, we alkies, who are experts at interpretation, have turned that statement around to justify an "assets and liabilities checklist" for the 4th Step inventory. That may be a handy tool for Steps 6 & 7, but many alcoholics are dying because they never come face-to-face with the truth in Step 4. My sponsor has always insisted that I remember it was never my "assets" which got me drunk.
11. Don't forget: Praying is a part (a big part!) of Step 4. The prayers in the 4th Step are just as important as the actual writing of the inventory. Chuck C. used to say that the Steps are about UNCOVERING, DISCOVERING, and DISCARDING. The writing of Step 4 helps us to uncover. The prayers help us to discover. Steps 5 through 9 enable us to discard.
12. We write inventory to discover the TRUTH... about the LIE.
    (NOTE: You may need to meditate on that statement for a while before you really understand it. I had to. Of course, getting lots of experience by writing inventory helped me understand as well. Experience is the name of the game when it comes to working with others.)

Step 4 helps us to discover truth by working from the outside, moving inward. In resentment inventory we discover that our troubles are not of someone else's making (columns 1, 2, 3); but instead, as mentioned on page 62, our troubles are of our own making (column 4). Quite often a protégés will discover that the first 3 columns of his/her inventory are based on a "lie" by the time they begin working on their 4th column. In inventory, I write about "who I am not" to discover "who I am".

13. A thorough 4-column-inventory will give your protégés all the information they need for completing the rest of the "housing-cleaning" steps: He/she will use all four columns for Step 5. They'll use columns 3 & 4 for Steps 6 & 7. And column 1 will be used for Steps 8 & 9. So, if this is true, then you may not want to burn your inventory, as we are sometimes told to do by members of our fellowship. If you must discard your inventory (which is necessary for some people), then wait until you've completed Steps 5, 6, 7, and have made a separate and thorough list for Step 8.

(NOTE: I am occasionally faced with the old "dog ate my homework" excuse from protégés who don't want to complete their 9th Step amends. So, be careful with the "burn your inventory" suggestion. Believe it or not, it's NOT in the Big Book.)

14. Even though this is not mentioned specifically in the Big Book, by completing a searching, fearless, honest, and thorough inventory we are examining the 4 dimensions of our life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. (BUT only the fourth dimension, "spiritual", is rooted in Truth. But set that aside for a moment and read on...) Column 1 of resentment inventory deals with the physical - Who or what we're mad at. Column 2 deals with the mental - What we think they did to us. Column 3 deals with the emotional - What we felt when they supposedly wronged us. (Clarence S. used to say that alkies don't think, "THEY EMOTE!" which means we feel our way through life.)

And finally, Column 4 rockets us into the spiritual dimension, revealing the "exact nature of our wrongs" - the truth about what really happened. It usually reveals to me how my faulty thinking caused me to take actions which got the "ball rolling" in the first place. With 99% percent of the resentments I see (both in myself and in those I work with) the first 3 columns can be turned into a lie when the truth of the fourth column is revealed.

Consider this: Is it possible that the 4th column of inventory, which reveals to us the "truth", is the "fuel" that enables us to be rocketed into the "Fourth Dimension of Existence" that the Big Book describes on pages 8 & 25? This "Fourth Dimension" is later described on page 84 as the "World of the Spirit" as we begin to commence daily spiritual living with Steps 10 & 11. The "World of the Spirit" is a constant because Truth, which we first discover in the fourth column of Step 4, is a constant. Truth is always present at the core of our Being even when covered up (or blocked) by a lie.

15. Show your prospect that inventory can be fun! Don't treat inventory as if you're going to a funeral. Treat it like your witnessing the birth of a new child... because you are! Of course Step 4 is a serious life and death matter; but it will be encouraging if you can show your protégés to have fun with inventory. And above all, "Keep It Simple!"

Remember: "IF IT AIN'T IN THE BIG BOOK, IT AIN'T!"

Six Original Steps in Bill Ws autographed note

Original Six Steps

The picture to the left is Bill Wilson's original note on writing the steps autographed by him. 1. We admitted that we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol.   2. We made a moral inventory of our defects or sins.   3. We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence.   4. We made restitution to all those we had harmed by our drinking.   5. We tried to help other alcoholics, with no thought of reward in money or prestige.   6. We prayed to whatever God we thought there was for power to practice these precepts. Although those steps had helped in the recovery of New York and Akron alcoholics, Bill felt the program was still not definitive. "Maybe our six chunks of truth should be broken up into smaller pieces," he said. "Thus we could better get the distant reader over the barrel, and at the same time we might be able to broaden and deepen the spiritual implications of our whole presentation." Pass It On©, p.197

A brief history of AA Chips

A History of AA Chips

The traditions of chips, medallions and birthdays vary in different parts of the country and here is some of their history from the "A. A. Grapevine" and other sources.

There is evidence that early on many people in AA carried personal mementos to remind themselves of the importance of their sobriety.
 Clarence H. Snyder - "The Home Brewmeister had his last drink on February 11, 1938 and he carried this medallion made from a silver dollar and a watch fob up until just before his death on March 22, 1984. His story, "Home Brewmeister", can be found on page 297 of the Big Book.

Sister lgnatia, the nun who helped Dr. Bob get the hospitalization program started at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron was the first person to use medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous. She gave the drunks who were leaving St. Thomas after a five day dry out a Sacred Heart Medallion and instructed them that the acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery and that if they were going to drink, they had a responsibility to return the medallion to her before drinking. Click to see Sacred Heart Medallion The sacred heart medallions had been used prior to A.A. by the Father Matthew Temperance Movement of the 1840's and the Pioneers, an Irish Temperance Movement of the 1890's. 

The practice of giving sobriety chips in A.A. is attributed to a Group in Elmira, N.Y. in 1947.  The celebration of birthdays came from the Oxford Group where they celebrated the anniversary of their spiritual rebirth.  People in early A.A. chose the anniversary of the date of their last drink.

The "A.A. Grapevine" carried many articles on chips and cakes and the following is a brief summary of some of them.

Feb. 1948 - Why All the Congratulations? "When we start taking bows (even on anniversaries) we bow ourselves right into the cuspidor."

July, 1948 - Group To Give Oscar for Anniversaries. The Larchmont Group of Larchmont, N.Y. gives a cast bronze camel mounted on a mahogany base to celebrate 1st., 5th and 10th anniversaries. "The camel is wholly emblematic of the purposes of most sincere A.A.s, i.e., to live for 24 hours without a drink."

August 1948 - The Artesia, N.Mex. Group awards marbles to all members. If you are caught without your marbles, you are fined 25 cents. This money goes into the Foundation Fund.

June 1953 - We operate a poker chip club in the Portland Group (Maine). We have poker chips of nine colors of which the white represents the probation period of one month. If he keeps his white chip for one month he is presented with a red chip for one month's sobriety. The chips continue with blue for two months, black for three, green for four, transparent blue for five, amber for six, transparent purple for nine months and a transparent clear chip for one year. We have our chips stamped with gold A.A. letters. Also at the end of the year and each year thereafter, we present them with a group birthday card signed by all members present at the meeting.

January 1955 - Charlotte, N.C. "When a man takes "The Long Walk" at the end of a meeting, to pick up a white chip, he is admitting to his fellow men that he has finally accepted the precepts of A.A. and is beginning his sobriety. At the end of three months he exchanges his white chip for a red one. Later, a handsome, translucent chip of amber indicates that this new member has enjoyed six months of a new way of life. The nine month chip is a clear sea green and a blue chip is given for the first year of sobriety. In some groups a sponsor will present his friend with an engraved silver chip, at the end of five years clear thinking and clean living.

March 1956 - The One Ton Poker Chip. Alton, Illinois. Author gave friend a chip on his first day eight years ago (1948) and told him to accept it in the spirit of group membership and that if he wanted to drink to throw the chip away before starting drinking.

October 1956 - Bangor Washington. Article about a woman who sits in a bar to drink, the bartender sees her white chips and asks what it is. She tells him. He throws her out as he does not want an alcoholic in his bar. She calls friend.

April 1957 - Cape Cod, Mass. Group recognizes 1st, 5th and 15th anniversaries. Person celebrating leads meeting. Person is presented with a set of wooden carved plaques with the slogans.

July 1957 - New Brunswick, Canada. Birthday Board. Member contributes one dollar for each year of sobriety

July 1957 - Oregon. Person is asked to speak and is introduced by his or her sponsor. The wife, mother, sister or other relative brings up a cake. The Group sings Happy Birthday. The wife gives a two or thee minute talk.

April 1959 - Patterson, N.J. People are asked to give "three month pin talks."

And that's a little bit of info on chips, cakes and medallions.

AA MEETING FORMULA

FORMULA FOR AN AA MEETING

In Southern California

Some warm and friendly customs have spread from the Golden State...

In their attitude towards meetings, Southern California AAs tend to display a certain foot-loose, fancy-free disposition characteristic of this part of the country. Here an AA member may "belong" to a dozen AA groups (in the sense of being on the membership rolls), or to none. He may officially belong to a group he seldom attends, and attend groups he doesn't belong to. Shopping around is common. Certain speakers are drawing cards. When word gets around that one of these is going to speak, the usual attendance of a score may jump to a hundred or more.

All this is hard on secretaries. A secretary seldom knows who really is a member of the group. In a year, half the membership of a group is likely to have moved away or started frequenting other meetings, without telling the secretary. And the busiest bee in the group may turn out not to be a member at all, or at least not enrolled.

As one might expect, group membership fluctuates in volume greatly, sometimes violently. Alcoholics here (like all Southern Californians) are freeway-trained rovers. Hence, groups draw their membership from far and wide. Whether they want to or not, groups inevitably contend to a certain extent for the same people. Supermarkets here have the same problem.

But open or closed, discussion or "speaker" meeting, every group in Southern California observes two inviolable customs.

One custom is that of opening the meeting with the reading of the first few pages of "Alcoholics Anonymous." It dates back to the first AA meeting held in Los Angeles on December 19, 1939, and it began by chance. A Denver alcoholic had gone to the Mayo Clinic to learn that his alcoholism was hopeless; but a doctor at the clinic gave him a copy of the book, which had just been published, telling him it might contain some useful ideas. The book stayed in the alcoholic's luggage on a drinking jaunt to Mexico which ended in a Palm Springs hotel. Here, searching in his luggage for a non-existent bottle one night, he found the book and desperately began reading it to pass time until dawn would break and the liquor stores would open.

He never did buy any more booze. Instead, realizing that in order to keep his tender new sobriety he had to give it away, he went to Los Angeles, assembled an assortment of lushes and started a meeting. He had never attended one, but he had the book. He began by reading Chapter Five, and since then every Southern California meeting - all descendents of that first one - has opened the same way.

From the very start, the typical Southern California meeting has a certain distinctive flavor which might be called the "Hi!" flavor.

When the chairman opens the meeting with "I'm So-and-so, and I'm an alcoholic," he is greeted with a "Hi, So-and-so!"

Whoever is chosen to read the excerpt from Chapter Five is also greeted with the "Hi!" when he (or she) gives his name, applause as he walks to the podium and applause when he concludes.

The Chapter Five reader is likely to be fairly new to the program but no matter hoe timid he is at first, the applause and the "Hi!" will start him on his way to becoming an AA ham.

A typical Los Angeles meeting lasts an hour and a half. Most start at 8:30 in the evening and end at 10 o'clock. There are usually two speakers, a man and a woman, but there may be several, or there may be only one if a special speaker from the "circuit" is booked.

There is usually a five or ten minute coffee break in the middle of the meeting, following the first speaker. The second part usually begins with the reading of the Twelve Traditions - another opportunity to break in timid newcomers with applause and "Hi's!" If they get hung up on the pronunciation of "autonomous" or "anonymity," as they often do, the applause afterwards is extra loud. The impression, especially in the larger meetings, is one of infectious joviality.

Another Southern California custom is that of celebrating anniversaries with birthday cakes. At the end of the meeting, just before the Lord's Prayer, the chairman may say, "We have a custom in AA of calling newcomers 'babies.' We do this because we believe alcoholics finding AA sobriety for the first time have been in a certain sense reborn. And as babies grow older, they have birthdays. Tonight we are celebrating such a birthday. For 365 consecutive days of total sobriety - Jerry W.!"

At this point, to the usual applause, Jerry, dressed in his best because he knew full well what was about to happen, makes his way to the podium while someone, such as his wife or sponsor, emerges from the back room with a cake bearing a lighted candle.

The raggedly sung strains of "Happy Birthday, Dear Jerry" real out somewhat discordantly (or once in a while with grade AA barbershop harmony), and the beaming Jerry accepts the cake. The singing concludes with a mournfully drawn out "Keep coming ba-a-ack!" and Jerry blows out the candle, a feat which evokes tremendous applause. Jerry expresses his thanks in a few words, or sometimes enough to give everybody the fidgets, and returns to his seat amid more applause.

The newcomer's expressed attitude toward this may be one of supercilious condescension, and he may refer to it as rampant, blatant, sloppy sentimentalism - but he will be impressed nonetheless, and is likely to nourish a secret inner feeling of envious hope.

There may be two or more birthdays celebrated at a meeting. Some groups have an annual birthday night for old-timers who are given cakes with as many as fifteen or twenty candles. The sight of ten or twelve old-timers receiving cakes that resemble ambulatory forest fires impresses even the most hardened skeptic.

Some groups give cakes decorated with the recipient's name, and he is allowed to take his cake home. In some groups, the cake is sliced and served after the meeting. Emergencies have been known to occur in which the same cake had to be used more than once in the same meeting - hastily taken back, recandled and relit, and so on. After all, we are not saints. We claim only spiritual progress.

The thundered "Hi's!" as each speaker gives his name, the applause for everything, the universal scurrying like wheeled rabbits to everywhere from everywhere; together, they give an impression of cordiality, joviality and open-handedness that is rather startling but usually pleasing to people who encounter it for the first time.

Of course, some think it forced, even phony glad-handing greeterism. A few are genuinely shocked by the fact that most speakers and leaders give their last name as well as their first names. It seems anything but anonymous. And this light-heartedness (some might say light-headedness) is not found in all groups. It is most noticeable in the larger ones - and maybe that is why they are large.

But for the secretaries, the steering committees, the sober-sides - for all those who like things tidy, orderly and predictable - it's a hard AA life here in Southern California.

The AA Grapevine©, September 1961

Alcohol left in food after cooking

Alcohol left in food after cooking!

This information was initially established by FDA research; a study was subsequently published in the April 1992 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic
Association (JADA). The citation is on PubMed, but  the JADA issues prior to 1993 are not available online. Library citation is:  J Am Diet Assoc. 1992 Apr;92(4):486-8. The authors are: Augustin J, Augustin E, Cutrufelli RL, Hagen SR, Teitzel C. [Department of Food Science and Toxicology, Food Research Center, Moscow, ID 83843.]


 Cooking With Alcohol

 Q. When cooking with beer or alcohol, does all of the alcohol evaporate?

 A. No. The following chart should be helpful.

PREPARATION METHOD	Alcohol Retained
No heat application, immediate consumption	100%
No heat application, overnight storage	70%
Alcohol ingredient added to boiling liquid, and removed from heat	85%
Flamed	75%
Baked, approximately 25 minutes, alcohol ingredient  on surface of mixture (not stirred in)	45%

  
 

Baked/simmered, alcohol ingredient stirred into mixture

15 minutes	40%
30 minutes	35%
1 hour	25%
1.5 hours	20%
2 hours	10%
2.5 hours	5%

What can I substitute if a recipe calls for beverages with alcohol?

The best, but not always the easiest solution, is to find another recipe  without alcohol that will fill the need. If the beer or wine is a  major  ingredient in your recipe, or if a large quantity is called for, it  makes sense not to attempt a substitute. The results could be  unpleasant. In such a case, look for another recipe.

Often the alcohol required will be a small amount, such as a couple of  tablespoons, and in this case there are several substitutions:

In recipes having plenty of seasonings, plan water may be substituted.  Both the alcohol and a substitute may be omitted if the liquid isn't needed for a gravy or sauce.

 When cooking with fish, an equal amount of bottled or fresh clam or fish stock may be substituted. Just remember, bottled clam juice and some  fish stocks are high in salt. Some people use white grape juice with  fish.

 Other substitutes include chicken or beef broth.   Juice such as lemon, lime, apple or cranberry are all possibilities.
Article courtesy of Lund Food Holdings, Inc. ©
Source:  Minnesota Nutrition Council Newsletter © 1999

The Vitamin B-3 Therapy (Niacin)

The Vitamin B-3 Therapy (Niacin)

Source:
http://vitaminb-3therapy.blogspot.in/2012/01/little-known-obscure-fact-isthat-bill-w.html

This site is in no way affiliated with the organization Alcoholics Anonymous.

This blog is about Bill Wilson., (co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) and the last ten years of his life.  In 1960 Bill found that by taking niacin (vitamin B-3) his life long battle with depression was relieved.  This blog is here to pass on and carry the message which Bill so passionately devoted him-self to from 1960 to 1971.  But more importantly is to here help other alcoholics recover from severe depression that happens to some of us before and after sobriety.  Remember, this was then and still is now an outside issue, please remember our 6th and 10th traditions when discussing this.

Tradition Six—An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Tradition Ten—Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

A little known obscure fact is that Bill W., The co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous wrote three papers about the biochemical aspects of Alcoholism in the last ten years of his life.

Bill, had suffered horribly from depression most of his life, both before and after sobriety.   He found some substantial relief from this misery in 1960 after meeting two doctors in New York; Abram Hoffer and Humphrey Osmond.  These MD's were researching alcoholism and mental health disorders in Canada.

After meeting Hoffer and Osmond Bill began taking vitamin B-3 (Niacin).  Bill found such a great release from his depression that he set out to advance this second vocation for the remaining years of his life. 

Bill Wilson gave his all to promote, finance and help this area of research into the field of alcoholism.  He wrote, edited and distributed three pamphlets which he sent to doctors and many friends both in and out of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

The first paper was published in 1965, the second in 1968 and the last one published posthumously in 1971 with a forward written by Lois Wilson his wife.  These three papers represent the majority of his time and effort during the last decade of his life

Shorty before his death, Bill was asked what one thing he would like to be most remembered for in the history books; He said that it would be for his promotion of the B-3 Therapy, not the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous. (Ernest Kurtz, Not-God: A history of Alcoholics Anonymous (Hazeldon Press 1979) P. 137-38.
 

Below, in three different communications, Bill W. presents "The Vitamin B-3 Therapy;"

THE VITAMIN B-3 THERAPY: 1965 By Bill W

THE VITAMIN B-3 THERAPY: 1968 By Bill W.

THE VITAMIN B-3 THERAPY: 1971 By Bill W.

Dr. Abram Hoffer on Bill W. 

NIACIN (NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)) Overview Information WEBMD

Niacin and niacinamide are forms of Vitamin B3. Vitamin B3 is found in many foods including yeast, meat, fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables, beans, and cereal grains. Niacin and niacinamide are also found in many vitamin B complex supplements with other B vitamins.

Niacin is used for high cholesterol. It is also used along with other treatments for circulation problems, migraine headache, dizziness, and to reduce the diarrhea associated with cholera.

Niacinamide is used for treating diabetes and two skin conditions called bullous pemphigoid and granuloma annulare.

Niacin or niacinamide is used for preventing vitamin B3 deficiency and related conditions such as pellagra. Each of these forms of vitamin B3 is used for schizophrenia, hallucinations due to drugs, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related loss of thinking skills, chronic brain syndrome, depression, motion sickness, alcohol dependence, and fluid collection (edema).

Some people use niacin or niacinamide for acne, leprosy, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), memory loss, arthritis, preventing premenstrual headache, improving digestion, protecting against toxins and pollutants, reducing the effects of aging, lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, promoting relaxation, improving orgasm, and preventing cataracts.

Niacinamide is applied to the skin for treating a skin condition called inflammatory acne vulgaris.

 

How does it work?

Niacinamide can be made from niacin in the body. Niacin is converted to niacinamide when it is taken in amounts greater than what is needed by the body. Niacin and niacinamide are easily dissolved in water and are well-absorbed when taken by mouth.

Niacin and niacinamide are required for the proper function of fats and sugars in the body and to maintain healthy cells. At high doses, niacin and niacinamide can have different effects. Niacin might help people with heart disease because of its beneficial effects on clotting. It may also improve levels of a certain type of fat called triglycerides in the blood. Niacinamide has no beneficial effects on fats and should not be used for treating high cholesterol or high fat levels in the blood.

Niacin deficiency can cause a condition called pellagra, which causes skin irritation, diarrhea, and dementia. Pellagra was common in the early twentieth century, but is less common now, since foods are now fortified with niacin. Pellagra has been virtually eliminated in western culture.

People with poor diet, alcoholism, and some types of slow-growing tumors called carcinoid tumors might be at risk for niacin deficiency.

PLEASE NOTE:
There are 3 types of Niacin:

1)  Niacin, (also known as vitamin B₃, nicotinic acid and vitamin PP)  A common minor side effect of niacin is a flushing reaction. This might cause burning, tingling, itching, and redness of the face, arms, and chest, as well as headaches. Starting with small doses of niacin and taking 325 mg of aspirin before each dose of niacin will help reduce the flushing reaction. Usually, this reaction goes away as the body gets used to the medication.

2)  Nicotinamide, (also known as niacinamide and nicotinic acid amide) does not have the flushing reaction.  But, nicotinamide does not have the cholesterol lowering properties of niacin.

3) Inositol Hexanicotinate, (also called "flush-free" or "no-flush" niacin) is a different form of niacin.  This type of niacin can have have adverse effects on the liver.

Medical Disclaimer:  The information available from this website has been prepared and/or obtained for general information, education, reference, and/or entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. The owner of this website is not a licensed doctor and is not providing medical advice, or diagnosing or treating any condition you may have. We are not your doctor.

You agree that you will not act upon anything contained in this website without first seeking professional medical advice.

Posted by Tom K at 2:22 PM

14 comments:

1. 
   

Bill L.February 25, 2012 at 10:07 PM

Hi Tom K.

You have done the world and especially the recovery community a great service by publishing
Bill Wilson's Three Studies on Niacin (B-3). I believe it was 'The Whale' who made the observation that it was "criminal" to drug
people in early recovery when working protocols
for Vitamin Tx. and most especially Niacin (B-3), the "smart" are known and available.

The simple fact of the matter is that this information has been hidden from recovering
persons for the last 50 years. Contempt prior
to investigation has kept this information from comming to the forefront. Oh Ya, there was the defiance too, on the part of the non-recovering medical folks on the board at the time. It reminds me of the scientists who refused to perform experiments lest their bet theories be proven wrong.

When this information hits the main stream and folks figure out just how workable it is, recovery and Emotional Sobriety will reach new heights.

Pass It On,

Bill L.
Clearwater, FL

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2. 
   

Tom KMarch 7, 2012 at 8:24 AM

Hello Bill L.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I too believe you are right on the mark.

I got sober in 1988 and after the first three years became depressed as hell. Thinking I had not worked the steps right I suffered until 1997. That is when I discovered Niacin by and the grace of God.

I had many conversations with Abram Hoffer over the years and have been working on a book which he encouraged me to do. The big thing with this book is that I found the answer as to why Niacin worked/works so well, and I can back it up with the scientific research they have done over the years. You might say I can beat the skeptics over their heads with their own research.

I'm not trying to make money, just to pass it on like we do in Alcoholics Anonymous. "For fun and for free" as Chuck C. use to say.

Thanks again for your kind words. I hope we can continue this conversation, I can use all the help I can get.

Tom K.

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Replies

1. 
   

Bill L.July 13, 2012 at 10:54 AM

Hi Tom,

Again it is a great service to folks in AA to have these materials available after all these years. I am happy to hear that you were in touch with Abram Hoffer!

I sent copies of Bill W's 3 Vit. B-3 studies to Andrew Saul Phd. and to Genita Petrilli about 8 months ago. They were happy to get the copies and I sent them the link to your site as well.

Charlie Bishop (The Bishop Of Books) who published the 3 studies contacted Andrew Saul saying that he no longer had any copies of the studies he published years back. Andrew Saul told him to email me and I had
the priviledge of mailing him a complete working copy of his booklet! Cool HUH! :)

Ray G. who runs the Dr. Bob Museum lent me a Copy No. 038 of Charlie Bishop's June 1993 Limited Edition of 200 Copies. I had CD's in PDF format made and I will email this document free to anyone who contacts me at:

passitonetech@gmail.com

I got sober in 1978. In the early 1990's I started doing research on B-3 to help a firend of mine that had prostrate cancer. I found Abram Hoffers research and the references to Bill W's research. It took me seven years to find the 3 Studies he did. At the time I was working with a friend John B. By the time he got sober he had 2/3rds of his liver removed. He figured out that he could compensate for this with high does B-3 and sweat the toxins out of his body.

As far as I know Bill had thousands of people taking B-3 in the 1960's. One guy told me that whenever he went to an AA Mtg. in the Seattle area everyone had a Niacin Flush!

This research done by Bill W. is profoundly important. Resently Hoffer and Bill W. have been noted as the first to do research on The Redox Signaling Molecules.

Alchoholics are "bedeviled" by skitzophrenic temdencies. Bill clearly makes this link. [cf for eg. the 8 bedevilments BB p. 52.] the DELUSION is this 'skitzoid tendency! They are continualy blindsided by this untill they can put the Spirit back in charge of the Body and the Mind, 24 hrs a day, day by day, minuite by minuite, as the case may be, God willing. In the interum B-3 gives them a leg up by reducing the schizophrenic toxin(s).

The real problem here is that folks in early recovery are give powerful psycho-active drugs. It is getting rare to find newcommers who are not on some kind of perscription drugs. It is very clear that these problems could be and should be addressed with Vitamins. At this time, this is the MINORITY view but surely we do know of the importance of the minority view and have seen it carry the day, time and again, in the group conscious vote.

In my opinion the way to proceed is get Bill W's research widely known and understood. This is a good start! B-3 is part of the solution to the skitzoid tendency developed during long term alchol addiction.

Email me and I can send proof.

SERVUS,

Bill L.

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3. 
   

homebxJuly 21, 2013 at 9:04 PM

I've been sober since May of `86, and this is the first I've heard of any of this! And being a diligent all or nothing alcoholic, I intend to thoroughly check this out. Now, gentlemen, if you`ll kindly excuse me, I have to go to the drug store! Thanks fellas I'm really glad I found this...

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4. 
   

The Right PathJuly 23, 2013 at 7:47 AM

Very well written blog that you put together here. Lots of great information all in one place. Thank you for sharing this!

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5. 
   

wolfblue stallSeptember 14, 2013 at 1:12 PM

Hi , Brilliant that you have created this blog and made available
the 3 communications, i found out about Niacin a couple of years ago and gave it a try the flushing really put me off so i didn't really give it a proper chance , i did however really try and get a hold of the 3 communications from bill with no success. lately my research and has drawn me back to niacin and have now proceeded to use the non flushing version , im convinced that there is a bit of cover up going on with this vital information that could help so many us within the fellowship. Another vitamin/mineral that is worth looking into is Lithium Orotate (not to be confused with the pharmaceutical drug Lithium its a mineral not a drug. available from health food shops i have personally tried and has really helped me .

Phil T

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