Narratives of identities in a mutual-help group for alcoholism in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Introduction: Alcohol is the psychoactive drug most used in the world, being a serious problem of public health. In this study we describe the narratives of identity of subjects who attends the group of mutual-help of the Anonymous Alcoholics (AA). Methodology: It is a qualitative research where we accomplished 12 open interviews as well as participant observation, during six months, in a group of AA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Discussion: Whenever the person goes for the first time in AA, he/she is included in a group where the principal rule of partnership is that everyone must identify himself as an alcoholic and demonstrates his/her desire to stop drinking.  During the meetings, experiences with the alcohol are shared, being the initial phrase of all narratives: ' I am an alcoholic in rehab…'. Consequently the subject reaffirms constantly his common identity, of an alcoholic, with the group and shares his experiences with alcohol, positioning himself, not only for the group but for himself, as a new person, with a new identity in life. That is, the person will re-interpret his alcoholism and so, will promote a constant re-interpretation of his own biography. For Ricouer, the person’s story does not cease of being re-imagined from all the stories, true or fictitious, that he creates about himself. The new identity, build in AA, as well as the social support given by the group, are essentials tools for the treatment in the group studied.