Click on the attachment below to download an powerpoint presentation that covers the main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the doctors opinion, and pp. For a number of years i had a big book on a shelf that did a great job at collecting dust. In the doctor s opinion, section of the book, alcoholics anonymous, you will read of several different types of alcoholics. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery center. My feeling is that the doctor s opinion helped immesurably with doing away with the notion that alcoholism is a lack of exerting moral willpower. These members realized a 72% success rate from 19341938 died sober using this spiritual program of action. Alcoholism12 step support doctor s opinion in big book question. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. To whom it may concern which is in the beginning of the doctor s opinion in the big book. The doctor s opinion w e ofalcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in this book. The first and second edition book alcoholics anonymous is in public domain in the united states.
The doctors opinion contains two letters written by william d. I noticed that they mention the word craving several times in this section. The chapter the doctors opinion we discuss letters from dr william d. Read from aa big book, appendix ii, spiritual experience, pages 569570, adapted to compulsive overeating. There is also some brief writing by bill wilson, the founder of alcoholics anonymous. Ive been instructed to reread the doctor s opinion in the big book by my sponsor. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous the doctors opinion. The little doctor who loved drunks a letter from dr. Aa speakers joe and charlie the doctors opinion the big book comes alive duration. The doctors opinion in late 1934 i attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type i had come to regard as hopeless. The doctor s opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. In our belief, any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete.
The preface and foreword describe the history of the big book and its role in the alcoholics anonymous program. Annotated aa handbook a companion to the big book by frank d. The doctors opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous dawn farm lecture series november 18, 2014 herbert malinoff, md, facp, fasam specialist in chronic pain and addictive illness medical director, pain recovery solutions, pc attending physician, saint joseph mercy hospital, ypsilanti, mi. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. Frequently asked questions abstinence afflicted aggregate alcohol alcoholic alcoholics anonymous alcoholism all addictions allergy amends anonymous atheist audio avocation big book big book meeting bills story bill w. Read from aa big book, the doctor s opinion, page xxviii, adapted to compulsive overeating. Following the forewords, there appears a section called the doctors opinion. Ill ask my sponsor when i talk to her again but i thought i might be able to get an explanation here tonight or before i talk to her. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011 1. Towns hospital for drug and alcohol addictions in new york city, where he had treated, one of the founding members of aa, bill w. Main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the doctors opinion, and pp. I personally am convinced that the allergy diagnosis in the doctor s opinion of the big book is rooted in solid science, not in metaphor or outdated medicine.
Alcoholics anonymous, the doctors opinion the first and second edition book alcoholics anonymous is in public domain in the united states. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Preface to the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. One of the many doctors who had the opportunity of reading this book in manuscript form told us that the use of sweets was often helpful, of course depending upon a doctor s advice. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment.
Aa speakers joe and charlie cover the doctor s opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous in a way no one else can one can find the complete list of the world famous joe and charlie big book study tapes in the order they are. Alcoholic selftest using the big book of aa step 12. Convincingt estimonym ustsu relyco me from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the big book of aa be revised or removed.
Doctor silkworth was the first in his field to look at alcoholism and drug addiction in a disease model that he called an allergy of the body. The doctors opinion, a playlist by the big book study from desktop or your mobile device. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve. The doctors opinion on alcoholism november 2011 youtube. Doctors in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. The big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Aa articles aa speakers the purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and their program of. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. My assignment right now is reading the doctor s opinion and going paragraph by paragraph and writing my feelings on whats said. Big book the doctors opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. The doctor s theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and twelve step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions, in large part because of doctor silkworth.
The subject presented in this book seems to me to be of paramount importance to those afflicted with alcoholic addiction. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and 12step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions, in large part because of doctor silkworth. Original aa members documented their experience in the big book. This is a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. But as exproblem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense. The doctor s opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous dawn farm lecture series november 15, 2011 2. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. The doctors opinion by the big book study published on 20160829t19. The letter by dr silkworth that opens the big book of alcoholics anonymous was written july 27, 1938 under the letterhead of the charles b towns hospital a medical facility with a national reputation in alcohol and drug addiction treatment. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011. The doctors opinion alcoholics anonymous big book podcast. The doctor s opinion was page one and the basic text ended at page 179.
Alcoholic addiction xxv or xxvii 1st edition the doctor s opinion. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. Silkworth who contributed greatly to our young fellowship in its adolescence. Howard l reads the doctors opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous first published in 1939. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the. Quotethe doctor s opinion quote an opinion is just that.
Bill renumbered the pages of the 2 nd edition so that page one began with bills story instead of the doctor s opinion. I rode the wave of going to meetings and talking talk to. Joe and charlies doctors opinion big book step study. An illness of this sortand we have come to believe. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in this book. The 2 nd edition big book was introduced 16 years later at the historic 1955 international convention in st louis. After the foreword is a section called the doctor s opinion, which details the observations and beliefs of dr. I would suggest that you crack open the big book youve said that you have an electronic copy of it, so thats good and start with the doctors.
The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. Aa big book workshop, taking the 12 steps as done in the 1940s. Main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed.
A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous. The doctors opinion on alcoholism was presented on november 15. In 1939 when the big book was written the correct diagnosis for that reaction was an allergy. The author indicates that there are so many different types of alcoholics that he will not list them all. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the big book. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book. Our acceptance of the doctor s hypothesis is based on over 60 years of successful treatment founded on this model of alcoholism, coupled with the program of action outlined in this book. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. The doctor s opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery describedi nt his book. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous.
In the course of his third treatment he acquired certain ideas concerning a possible means of recovery. Moreover, it needs to be understood by alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Eventually i decided that i should try working the steps, so i found a sponsor who suggested we read the big book and go through the steps together. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Thereafter chronic cases which would typically be considered hopeless or incapable of anything might find an answer in aa and the spiritual experience. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa.
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