Abstract
The purpose of this research is to clarify how Alcoholics Anonymous members who have long been practicing temperance have become aware of their ability to control their temperance. Research participants were 3 male and 3 female alcoholics who had been abstinent for 5 years or more. Participant observations and interviews were conducted and data was analyzed by inductive coding. Three categories and ten sub-categories were found: rule-oriented temperance, constant/repeated vows of abstinence, and a new consciousness emerging from abstinence. The results revealed that these categories influenced each other, while the alcoholics themselves were influenced by people from their environment, e.g. relatives, friends and health care professionals. The first category also indicated that alcoholics with long-term temperance abstained in the early stages successfully by coping with their unstable feelings which were not necessarily related to a feeling of crisis while drinking. The findings suggest that nursing professionals should understand the effects of temperance on alcoholics and consider support they may need.
