“When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” (Page 64, Big Book)
Alcoholism = a sober compulsion to have the first drink + a drunk compulsion to continue drinking.
If the first compulsion is blocked, the second will never be activated.
God blocks the first compulsion.
What role does the spiritual malady play?
The spiritual malady is what blocks God.
When the spiritual malady is overcome, God becomes available, and God blocks the compulsion.
The spiritual malady is thus not part of the problem but a block to the solution.
Taking the example of a bacterial infection, not being able to get the cap off the antibiotic bottle is a block to the solution, not part of the problem of bacterial infection.