If you fail in AA, it's you that's failed. well duh, no sh!t... i have two friends that i KNOW would NOT BE HERE TODAY without AA.
If that’s true then it’s been “not working” for me for almost 18 years.
NPR staff. Bah
Sour grapes. His “program” probably costs money. AA does not. It has helped millions of people. Nothing’s perfect, except in the imagination of a liberal.
The main reason that is “doesn’t work” for the NPR crowd is that is based on a belief in a higher power than man. That is something they just can’t stand.
Look at the picture of the guy in the article. Typical hippy dippy know it all. He doesn’t like it because it brings people to God instead of knocking on his door. I’m okay with some stats that say it doesn’t work for everyone but the idea that its actually harmful is cr*p. No way that they can prove that. The people in the 12 step programs are damaged but the addict is going to hang out with damaged people whether he/she is in the program or not. 90 meetings in 90 days works. I was a grateful member of Al-anon for eight years. It got me through a lot. I’m now very busy with Church and I’m sure Dr. Dode thinks that’s a bad thing.
camraderie?...that's a bad thing?....
those same principles are used in weight loss groups, in study groups, in the miltary, etc...
I cheer AA for helping those they can....even if its ONE person, that's one person not on a perpetual binge...
“Not working” for me for 38 years. Continuous sobriety, nights and weekends included.
The article seems to equate fellowship (”brotherhood”) with the 12 step process. I currently see about 30% of the fellowship actually doing the 12 steps. Most stay try to stay abstinent on fear and fellowship.
I will look for some raw data from one of the medical insurance companies about the percentages for people who do the process through step nine. Those people show much higher success. “Anecdotally”, I see >50% for those people who do that.
AA claims it works for everybody? This guy is full of chit.
Placebos work too. Self-hypnosis works. Got to believe. For skeptics, programs of this type will never work.
The low success rate of AA is known. The varying ways people respond to AA is also known. Indeed, I have observed it myself.
It is notable to me that there seems to be no mention of the success rate of other approaches. What is there that works better? The anti-AA psychology disagreement has been going on for more then 3 decades. Surely is there IS data showing something that works better than AA the writer could mention it.
It seems likely that addictive behavior has several causes. Therefore it seems likely that one therapy will not work for all who display such behavior. Further those who stop displaying addictive behavior with respect to things like alcohol or medication may still show compulsive behaviors in other ways.
Some people who go to AA seem to get really better, a LOT better. Others, to mention just one imperfect outcome, just become addicted to going to AA — which still beats being addicted to a substance which in sufficient doses is a poison.
Not only that, but the proposed approach involving insight may well be insufficient in many cases. The inner state which leads to the displacement or compulsive behavior could be organic in origin, for example. The “talking cure” can only go so far with organic illness.
My conclusion is that, as it is, this is a pretty vapid article which seems to be self-serving somehow.
If you can quit in twelve steps, great. I did it in one step, 38 years ago. Just don’t drink.
I think it is just one more step in the progressive plan to completely erradicate the concept of a Higher Power from the public eye. “Don’t ask God for help, as his bosses (psychiatrists).”
Those whom cannot afford a psychiatrist? Ignore them
Those who are helped by programs like these? They are unimportant
I think he is laying the groundwork for legal challenges to funding a la Boy Scouts.
I'll tell you what this is all about. God. They hate that many people seek help from a higher power. Liberals attacked Teen Challenge who has a 70% success rate, because their strength comes from depending on God. The left hates anything that has to do with God. They called teen challenges help child abuse. These people would rather their own loved ones, continue in their addiction if it meant believing in God. Government success rate is in 20s.
Thank goodness it worked for my brother. Without it I would have no brother.
Because of it he has been a model husband, father and completed a lifelong Navy career.
He now, after retirement from the Navy, been working for the state of Virginia in Social Work, for years.
He could have done none of this.
Doc we will hold your seat for you until you are ready...
I was just talking to some recovered addicts (and drinkers) regarding that program. One of them is in a ministry program At Oral Roberts University.
He said that without the power of God to change on’s life - it just isn’t going to work; they’ll just fall back. But, if it’s a Christ-based program, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit working in the person’s life.
The problem with that? Well ... I guess it leaves out the atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus ... etc ... :-) ...
I’ve got a relative that we’re trying to work on ... in that regard.
AA has helped countless people live one day at a time by the grace of God.
I read through it waiting for the argument against relying on a Higher Power. Surprised that was not in there.
If you fail in AA, it's you that's failed. well duh, no sh!t... i have two friends that i KNOW would NOT BE HERE TODAY without AA.
Didn’t notice in the article anything about the success rate of any other methods. I can buy that different people will respond better to different things, but what are they and what are the criteria to choose one over the other? And I can’t see how AA would harm anyone, other than exposing sinners to God and thus stealing a few of them away from satan’s kingdom (which would constitute “harm” to a typical NPR reporter I guess).