Challenging Alcoholic's Anonymous As The Leading Form Of Addiction Treatment

Opposing Views ^ | 02/13/2014 | By Will Hagle

[Psalm 73]

"several alternatives to AA do exist. HAMS, for instance, is a harm reduction program that encourages addicts to complete small, realistic goals such as slowly reducing alcohol or drug use.

In 22 years of being in and around recovery - I have NEVER seen this method work.
I've seen it attempted thousands of times - usually ends in car-crash and/or jail time and/or overdose.

Like teen pregnancy - abstinence is the only sure-fire method.

[Jeff Chandler]

Drunks could always use Bob Newhart's Method.

[circlecity]

"How do we know they wouldn't have recovered on their own, or with some other program? We don't."

If you've got evidence to back up that these people would have recovered on their own please cite it. The vast majority of these success stories claim that they had tried everything else for years but nothing worked. You can't argue with success. But if you've found an alternative that works better for you, go for it.

[tet68]

And who needs 12 steps? Eleven will do.

The liberals have a 2 step plan...
Shut up and eat your gruel.

There must be a way to wean them off the democrat
party.

[colorado tanker]

My opinion is do whatever works.

I'm just highly suspicious when academics, psychiatrists or atheists go after AA. This lady's program is working for a lot of people, so I say more power to her.

[Jeff Chandler]

If you've got evidence to back up that these people would have recovered on their own please cite it.

I don't have to cite anything, because I'm not the one making claims.

Your claim that millions of people claim to have been helped by AA is based on what?

It's probably true that some people have been helped by AA, but how many? One out of 20? Out of 100? Out of 1000?

And of those who claim to have been helped, what evidence is there that a different method might not only have helped them but helped even more people?

[al baby]

I Tried that on my own dint work you get a taste of it and another buzz going then you get a huge case of theF its and i was back on a run rehab and AA did it for me

[Psalm 73]

"Any claims of success for AA is pure Blue Sky, with nothing to back it up."

And that's fine - there are some things in life that aren't subject to spread-sheet micro-analyses.
AA saved my life - maybe I would have got sober another way, but that doesn't matter, this is the way I did it - I'm living in today, can't worry about "what if's".

I'm clean and sober today, and that's what matters. From a run-away freight train plowing through anything and anyone in my path - to a usefull member of society. And a sane, Conservative one at that.

[tang-soo]

Celebrate Recovery is Christ-based 12 steps; the CR program has been growing very fast. The problem with AA and the “secular” program is Step 3 and Step 10, where they talk about “God as we understood Him”. Members drive a truck through that loophole, so much so that if someone says that Jesus is God then they are very likely to get keyed up on for “bringing religion to the forum”.

Here is the link to Celebrate Recovery. My wife started a chapter at our Church nearly 12 years ago and has been a state rep (Ohio) for about 7-8 years. Biblically-based approach to dealing with all additions - alcohol, chemical dependency, porn, gambling ... etc. Also with grief and emotional loss.

[Paleo Conservative]

Certainly religion is a major reason. But I think money is another. I'm sure the medical/counseling industry sees every free AA meeting as the loss of a paid counseling session.

That's weird. All the drug counselors I know either go to AA or Al Anon meetings or reccomend their clients go to them.

[madmominct]

Thank you ! :)

[Jeff Chandler]

I'm clean and sober today

Praise God! (And no, I'm not being sarcastic.)

My point is that although some individuals attribute their sobriety to AA, there is no way of knowing if it is an effective program or not. It might actually hurt more people than it helps. We just don't know, and we cannot know.

[don-o]

Numbers are of no interest to AA; though, of course you can find people to argue with about anything.

AA makes no claims to be the one and only. Some folks will attest that it works for them. Others will have a different story. It’s all good.

[Fido969]

I dunno. I used AA to get sober - that and God. Worked for me.

And that’s the fac’, Jack.

[Jeff Chandler]

It’s all good.

I'll drink to that!

[circlecity]

"Your claim that millions of people claim to have been helped by AA is based on what?"

Their personal testimonies which have been witnessed by millions and millions. And those making the testimonies don't have to cite anything either because they are talking about their own first hand experience. And it really doesn't matter what the success "rate" is, if you've got an alternative that has produced millions and millions of firsthand advocates over a period of decades I'd be happy to hear it out. If you know of a "different method that may have helped them" they lets hear about it.

[Focault's Pendulum]

HAMS, for instance, is a harm reduction program that encourages addicts to complete small, realistic goals such as slowly reducing alcohol or drug use.

Right there is a prime example that;

A: The author knows nothing about the disease and....
B: It's a dangerous program. It risks provoking an alcoholic response. I guess they never heard of that before.

For those of you who might not be aware, an alcoholic response happens when one reaches one reaches a level of alcohol that triggers a response in the brain stripping away any self control to stop.

It could be 1 drink, 2, or 3. Sometimes even a sip or two.

[Fido969]

All the drug counselors I know either go to AA or Al Anon meetings or reccomend their clients go to them.

Most modern rehab programs are: Pay them $20,000 to dry out for a month, and then they tell you to go to AA.

[circlecity]

"That's weird. All the drug counselors I know either go to AA or Al Anon meetings or reccomend their clients go to them."

Since the post I was responding to was commenting on those who are anti-AA they, by definition, do not include those you cite.

[Paleo Conservative]

AA is for alcoholics, not drug addicts. The power to remove the mental obsession of the first drink comes from God.

Lots of drug addicts are also cros addicted to alcohol.