The Department of Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance at the College of Education for Humanities, University of Basra, organized a seminar entitled "Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps to Recovery," attended by several faculty members.
The seminar aimed to introduce the Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship program and its therapeutic mechanisms, highlighting its impact on supporting recovery, as well as shedding light on the psychological and behavioral repercussions of addiction and methods of treatment.
The seminar, presented by Dr. Hamed Qasim Rishan, explained that the fellowship is an independent, non-profit organization based on the principles of mutual support and adherence to the Twelve Steps. It also outlined the membership requirements and defined addiction as a disorder that affects higher cognitive functions, emotions, and conscience, leading to a decline in life skills and weakened interpersonal relationships.
The seminar also addressed the individual effects of addiction, such as social withdrawal, loss of motivation, and risky behaviors associated with obtaining drugs, emphasizing the importance of counseling and rehabilitation programs in restoring psychological and social balance to the individual
