AA continues reaching out to prisoners

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) South Africa has been actively involved in hosting meetings at various local prisons since 1946, offering counselling, fellowship and guidance to inmates.
Although statistics are currently unavailable, many of the country’s 150 000 incarcerated inmates have admitted that their downfall and spiral into committing criminal offences was due to alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
Statistics from England and Wales indicate that 63% of prisoners are described as hazardous drinkers.

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According to the organisation, hard lockdown regulations imposed due to Covid-19 prohibited any outside persons from visiting correctional services facilities. This proved to be tough on inmates enrolled in the 12-step programme.
However, correspondence received from inmates’ cells stated that available AA literature continued to help them remain focused on a sober life and that letters of encouragement from outside kept them going.
“While inmates may not be actively drinking, factors which may contribute to continued abuse and relapse can be addressed, as long as the participant is willing to participate in the programme,” said AA national secretary, Ray.
“Treatment can commence and they can begin to benefit from the 12-step recovery programme while incarcerated thus developing the mind and spirit in order to outward instead of inward.”

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He said that the programme can assist inmates to live more serene lives during the period of incarceration, despite all the pressures of prison life.
“More importantly it helps the prisoner to live with society as it is and not as they would want it to be,” he said.
“Recovery begins as they learn tolerance towards others and accept responsibility for past actions.”
Testimonials received from those released from prison have indicated that reintegration into society was made easier because of the internal changes made.
“As they exchanged their old world-view and live by the principles of AA, which include honesty, willingness, integrity, humility and to be of service to others, life outside prison walls was easier,” he said.

A public information webinar for ‘Alcoholism: Crime, Treatment and Recovery’ will be hosted on November 10.
Speakers include Dr Susan J Rose, who was a member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty from 1992 to 2021.
Her teaching responsibilities included mental health, with research interests focused on intervention with incarcerated women as well as improving the transition from jail to the community for impoverished women.

Dr Tom le Bell will share his research on re-entering communities after incarceration. In addition, an AA member will share his story of how the organisation’s support and value system have aided him to transform his life outside of the correctional system.
To join any of the AA’s public information webinars, log on to www.aasouthafrica.org.za
For more information or assistance, call 0861 435 722 or Whatsapp 073 021 2523.