Primero Dios

Alcoholism is a pressing challenge to the U.S. Hispanic communities. Current treatments are often outside of their economic abilities, or are not adapted to their specific cultures. Government and other outside funding of these treatments also may create a dependence on forces beyond the Hispanic community's control, just as an unhealthy dependency can be created between client and counselor. Alcoholics Anonymous, however, costs members nothing and insists on mutual aid, not professional dependence. It is a widespread phenomenon among Hispanics both in the United States and abroad. The question is whether this grandparent of the self-help movement, born among middle-class, Midwestern Anglophones, is truly adaptable and liberating for the Hispanic community . Primero Dios investigates this question specifically from the perspective of the Catholic, Mexican-descent male. A review of the literature disclosed that A.A. has quite a following and an impressive history among this group. This research also revealed conversion as a key concept in the treatment of A.A. Hence, the author looks at what the Mexican-descent community understands by conversion, and compares this meaning with the