Alcoholism According To Lewis's Memoirs Of An Addicted Brain

Historically, alcoholism is commonly viewed by the majorities as a chronic illness that should be treated with medication. On the contrary, a completely opposite idea has been brought up - alcoholism can be cured by family support and love instead of medication. In today’s society, there is abundance of alcoholism, especially among the younger generation due to the fact they are able to access it easier. For instance, alcohol is sold off the shelves in local stores, providing adolescents the opportunity to obtain it. According to Lewis (2011), alcohol is the drug most abused by teenagers throughout the Western world. By the year 2000, most American high school seniors reported using alcohol within the past year, and 32 percent reported getting

369). The willpower and motivation comes from the encouragements of friends and family. When we are suffering from any difficulties, friends and family’s comfort and support will make us feel worthy, then we will feel motivated to pursuit happiness and success in our life. It is also worth noting that the book Memoirs of an Addicted Brain revolves around the isolation and loneliness received by Lewis from his peers and family. Under such circumstances, a teenager like Lewis is so desperate that he chooses to drink to fill the emptiness inside his heart. Luckily, after experiencing the highs and lows in life, Lewis finally understands his parents and comes back to his family, where he feels safe and secure. Later on, when his life really settles down, he is willing to retrospect the past, envisage the present and look into the future. His life is filled with purpose, passion, happiness, appreciation and love, which are the best cures for his alcoholism and drug abuse. Furthermore, an New York Times article written by Anahad Connor suggests that drugs to aid alcoholics see little use based on a study conducted by American Medical Association (Connor,

In an Al-Anon family, the husband who once had serious drinking problem, is completely cured with the help of the program. He expresses his gratitude by saying, “I owe my life to Al-Anon, and with its help, l can be proud of the person I am becoming” (Al-Anon, 1995, p.757). As a matter of fact, he is not a special case, situations like this happen everyday. Likewise, another person says, “ These wonderful men and women at my various Al-Anon meetings urged me on, shared with me, cared for me, laughed a lot and eased me back to life and to reality. Years of nightmares and unrelenting suffering were finally over, and I had survived” (Al-Anon, 1995, p.844). It is common to be seen that a person's attitudes towards drinking can be significantly altered by love, care, communication and motivation. In the Al-Anon program, “although a variety of circumstances have led people to Al-Anon, we discovered that with the help of the program and fellowship, people can recover. They can even become a source of strength and inspiration to others ”(Al-Anon, 1995, p.844). Social bonds, peer influence and family relationships are all essential components of a person’s