Denial Despite the increasing incidence of alcohol misuse and the costs it incurs, British society continues to hold equivocal and ambiguous attitudes towards drinking, and understanding of the nature of alcohol dependence and related issues is limited.

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences of alcoholics to enhance understanding of the illness, identify key issues and common themes and provide insight into the experiences of the participants during their alcohol dependent period and recovery.

Eight participants, all members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), were interviewed by the researchers.

While participants continued to deny the existence of a problem to those around them, their behaviours indicated that they were aware of the problem but were afraid to admit it openly through fear of other people’s reactions.

Participants generally regarded GPs as helpful but other health professionals less so, especially nurses and Accident and Emergency staff.

Participants considered that the success of treatment depended on their own motivation and willingness to engage in radical behaviour change.

They considered that reaching this stage represented a turning point in their illness. The point at which this stage was reached appeared to be different for each participant.

These findings suggest that denial of the problem to the outside world occurs simultaneously with individuals being aware of their problem.

Participants felt the illness carries a stigma and their negative experiences of health professionals other than GPs suggests that nurses and other health workers need to revise their understanding of alcohol dependence and their approach to it.

AA was a significant factor in recovery for these participants.

Research; Dyson J. Experiences of alcohol dependence: a qualitative study. J Fam Health Care. 2007;17(6):211-4.

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Related Reading:

The Easy Way to Stop Drinking
Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Denial: A Memoir (P.S.)