Alcoholism – there is help available in English
Alcoholics anonymous meetings can be found around France and internet-based groups also exist
A move to a new country – and the isolation that can follow – may sometimes be a trigger to alcoholism, says one of the organisers for Alcoholics Anonymous in France.
“Speaking personally, as an American, France was a big culture shock and I had a hard time adapting,” said Ann E.
“I’ve heard other people say that one thing we all share as alcoholics is a sense of isolation, but when you go to another country, you are out of your language and that increases it.”
While AA in France is primarily aimed at French people and known as Alcooliques Anonymes, the concept came from America and the first AA-style meetings were in English, in Paris, in 1949. Meetings in French were launched in 1960.
The organisation has a network of English-speaking meetings in areas including Paris and the Riviera and the south-west. Meetings take place at different times of day, and internet-based groups also exist.
The problem is evenly balanced in terms of the genders, although women tend to “hit the bottom” (progress to the most serious stage) faster, Ann said.
The signs are “when you start organising your life around drinking,” she said. “It’s not how much you drink but how you drink. There is a lot of denial involved before you accept you have a problem.”
She said a key factor in AA is a lack of hierarchy.
“No one’s in charge. We share experiences and make suggestions.”
Although there is a large French meetings network, France lags behind the UK and US in allowing AA into venues like prisons and hospitals, Ann said.
“We keep working with the media and professionals to let them know we’re here, but it is more difficult.”
There are lists of English-speaking groups at alcoholics-anonymous.eu and aa-southoffrance.org.
AA in France also holds an annual conference in a French city, which can be an opportunity to find out more.
Official information on the issue in French can be found at the website alcool-info-service.fr and by phone at 0980 980 930 (anonymous and at ordinary call charges).
This website advises also talking to your own GP about the issue if you feel alcohol is becoming a problem for you.
Your GP can be a first port of call for advice and, if necessary, can refer you to relevant specialists such as an alcoologue or addictologue.