I had an opportunity to attend an open meeting for people with gambling addiction. The Gamblers Anonymous program in the New York gives creates an environment for gamblers to share their experiences and acquire a positive behavior. I attended the open meeting on July 3, 2017 in Manhattan, New York. The meeting was open to members of the public who wanted to learn more about the experiences of the gamblers. However, only the members of the Gamblers Anonymous program were required to actively participate in the meeting.
Initially, I thought that the members, especially the victims of gambling will be unfriendly and unwelcoming. To the surprise of many, including myself, members were very welcoming and friendly. We were accorded a cordial welcome. The meeting began at 7:00 AM and took about one and a half hour. At the beginning of the meeting, the shared their week-long experiences. I noticed that they were sitting in circle and every member had an opportunity to talk. There was a facilitator who ensured that all the members adhered to their guiding principles. Every member had an equal opportunity to contribute to the meeting.
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I realized that they were not afraid to talk about their weaknesses and failures. They were honest with each other. For instance, a significant number of the members confessed that stopping gambling was difficult. Some said that they had continued to gamble, especially by betting in sports, despite being in the program for a couple of weeks. However, everyone indicated the desire to change. I noted that the facilitator provided an environment that made the members feel at ease as they shared their experiences. The addicts came from different cultures and ethnic groups. The unconditional positive regard for every member created a conducive environment for venting. The members were not afraid of one another.
I learnt that the Gamblers Anonymous programs was based on the principles of the twelve-step program. The principle includes accepting that one cannot control addition/compulsion, recognizing the presence of higher power who can help in controlling the compulsive behavior, admitting to God about one’s wrongs, making amends with people one might have wronged, and seeking to change through prayer and meditation. Therefore, the program recognizes that only God has the power to help the addicts to control their compulsive behavior. I noted how religious the members were. They prayed and sung a few songs before the beginning of the meeting. Also, the meeting closed in prayers, with each member saying that they hoped God will help them make the right choices.
Though I was inactive in the meeting, I took notes of the experiences. One thing I appreciated was the power of the unconditional positive regard for the addicts. Most people have issues with negative judgment and unfairness. People want to be in an environment where they feel loved and appreciated (Trull & Prinstein, 2013). This is exactly what the facilitator was doing. He ensured that members respected each other’s opinion even if it was wrong. He also demonstrated patience to those who had not improved their behavior as desired.
The other thing that I appreciated in the meeting was the power of believing in higher power. Through my own experiences, I have seen victims of drug/alcohol addiction. Most of them feel powerless and cannot help their predicament. However, the 12-step program provides hope and meaning of life (Kurtz & Fisher, 2003). The program is effective for the believers, who acknowledge the presence of God. At the end of the meeting, I concluded that with the right resources and opportunities, addicts can be helped.
References
Kurtz, L. F., & Fisher, M. (May 2003). "Twelve-step recovery and community service". Health & Social Work. 28 (2): 137–145.
Lile, B. (2003). "Twelve step programs: An update". Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment. 2 (1): 19–24 .
Trull, T. & Prinstein, M. (2013). Clinical Psychology (eighth ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. pp. 370–381.
