Adsız Alkoliklerin Ayıklık Sürecine İlişkin Anlatılarının Güçlendirme Temelinde Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

The objective of this study is to interpret and describe the strenghts of alcoholics anonymous related with their remission (sobriety) processes that is a self- help group offering addiction therapy alternatively, based on empowerment approach. While alcohol addiction is a situation that includes various processes such as drinking alcohol, observing deprivation symptoms, ever inreasing alcohol content, this addiction affects on the individuals as biological, psychological and social. AA members present crucial outputs in terms of understanding this process and providing remission and also execute all this process only with self- motivation. The study was conducted with qualitative research method among 15 AA participant through in- depth interview in February, 2017. Moreover, participant observation was performed in order to diversify data and analyse the process better. In this context, the researcher participated in 4 open session of AA – sessions continued with alcoholic families, Al- Anon and alcoholics together and shared feelings and thoughts by determining a thema, also a birthday session – AA members accept their first sober day as their birthday and celebrate this day every year regularly-. Besides, the researcher spent often time in Sıhhiye group department and observed AA members in their coffeehouse during almost 30 minutes. Thus, the process of AA was aimed to observe more clearly. A process about starting alcohol of the participants, issues related with alcohol, biological, psychological and social issues and their coping strategies and also strenghts was conducted during these interviews. At the end of the study, it was observed that 12 step changing program of AA, helping the others and group mind were the most important factors that enhance the strenghts of the participants. Generally, two theme was occured as “internal factors” that include physical, psychological and spiritual changes of the participants and “external factors” that contain changes of them related with their domestic and close environment, group interation of AA and involment in social process. Furthermore, the understanding was developed that all biological, psychological and social changes are not positive for all participants and they have to creat new coping strategies, also the strenghts of the participants in this process was analyzed and described through their own narratives. This study is assumed as an original thesis, since remission process of AA members was analyzed based on empowerment approach as one of the approaches used in social work science and profession.