Addiction is like any long-term illness. Like diabetes and depression, alcoholism has to be continuously treated or it will get worse, and eventually you lose the battle. Northern KwaZulu-Natal Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) held their annual rally in Estcourt this year at the Forderville Hall on Sunday, November 6.
The hall was packed with members and supporters of this fellowship of men and women as they shared their experiences with substance abuse and alcohol addiction. The gathering also marked the 32nd annual rally.
The rally showed support for those battling alcohol dependence. AA is a non-profit, non-religious organisation that encourages recovery, hope and allows alcoholics to recover with dignity.
The event featured several speakers including Northern KwaZulu-Natal AA Chairperson, Mr Pravesh. Other speakers who took to the stage were members of AA and Al-Anon, which is a fellowship that offers a program of recovery and support for the families and friends of alcoholics.
Bottle to bottle tales had everyone listening to the speakers attentively. These moving tales highlighted the miserable lives of disappointment, embarrassment and regret that alcoholics lived before sobriety.
The talks sent the crowd on a wild roller-coaster ride of emotions. But the path to recovery, rehabilitation and sobriety through AA, capped everything off.
One woman told of how the wrath of alcohol, made her want to end her life and how the bottle deprived her of being a mother. Alcohol made her brave and arrogant but along with that made her ill, and the craving caused job loss.
Thanks to her sponsor and the support of AA, she enjoys living a life free from the clutches of alcohol. The theme of the rally was ‘AA works, it really does,’ and each speaker stood testament of this.
Organisers of Sunday’s rally hope their show of solidarity sent a message. A lovely lunch was provided to everyone present.
If you are “sick and tired of being sick and tired” then join the AA Estcourt branch, which meets every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School at 7pm. You don’t have to lose the battle against substance abuse and alcohol addiction, there is help, and there is love and support.
There is Alcoholics Anonymous! For more information contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.
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