AA or the highway?

[Millwallj]

Why is that in most treatment centers AA is touted as the only way to recover?

This disturbs me a little as it gives the person little choice in the matter - when quite clearly there are other treatments that are proving affective (including no treatment at all). I ask out of curiosity as an AA member who is concerned with this aspect of the fellowship.

[MarkSichelCSW]

AA may or may not be the only way to recover, but in 25 years of working with addicts, I will tell you it is far and away the best way.

[meli2005]

My AH has been told my many that AA helped them more than rehab centers, etc.

[vitalsixthsense]

People working in treatment know AA is working for millions. They feel it is there job to convince people to try AA. Most where I live working in the treatment centers do not even know much about the AA program. I agree that some people learn that drinking is a problem and that is enough of a spiritual experience. Most people I know who are staying sober and not coming to AA are using some kind of spiritual help, like church, or prayer and meditiation. That all is fine. For me, I needed AA when I was about 8 years old and started having mental problems where I decided to drink to solve them. I had visited a meeting before this age, and they said that it was a closed meeting and I needed a drinking problem. So I thought, I'll show you I'll drink and come back next week. Once I drank I forgot I was an alcoholic. I did not make into AA until age 19. I am a real alcoholic, I need AA to remind me of that so I never forget again.

[Time2Surrender]

Originally Posted by MarkSichelCSW

AA may or may not be the only way to recover, but in 25 years of working with addicts, I will tell you it is far and away the best way.

Thank you

[doorknob]

Originally Posted by MarkSichelCSW

AA may or may not be the only way to recover, but in 25 years of working with addicts, I will tell you it is far and away the best way.

The only thing that makes AA the "best" is that it is the most widely available to everyone. Most people are Ok with it, but some have a really hard time choking down a philosophy based on religious dogma. I think therapists have a responsibilty to be educated on all recovery philosophies and methods so clients are presented with choices, and can make an educated decision about which is the appropriate route for them to pursue.

Doorknob

[Gooch]

Originally Posted by Millwallj

Why is that in most treatment centers AA is touted as the only way to recover?

This disturbs me a little as it gives the person little choice in the matter - when quite clearly there are other treatments that are proving affective (including no treatment at all). I ask out of curiosity as an AA member who is concerned with this aspect of the fellowship.

when quite clearly there are other treatments that are proving affective (including no treatment at all).

huh? how is no treatment an effective treatment?

as to your question .. AA isn't touted as the only way to recover. I think that when you can embrace this fact, youe difficulties with AA will not demand so much of your attention.

I almost hate to expain it this way but I have heard an expression used around AA .. "We have an opinion about alcohol" .. I never understoiod that for a long time as I had a reaction to alcohol. Now that i have some experience at consistent abstinance and am comfortable enough in my own skin to understand I like myself much better this way. I don't feel threatened by alcohol or my inability to use it responsibly. I have an opinion about it.

I might suggest that perhaps your emotional investment in AA is still distracting your energies and attention from your individual pursuit of serenity and acceptance of yourself and the world around you.

In the past I felt strongly about many of the same things I've read in your posts. I tried a whole bunch of different things before I came to my own comfort zone of what works for me.. It happens that while it insn't necessaril;y the "model" AA example, it does include the principoles embodied in the steps, attending meetings, and maintaining contact with other past, present and future members as well as choosing my path based in what I have learned from the application of the "program" in my life. I still have some major issues with the "fellowship" and I realize that this is an inherant part of what happens when you throw a group of druggies or drunks together with or without substances. Today I have an opinion about the program but I am still working on getting through my emotional reactions to the fellowship. lol

Please don't develop an emotional investment of my take on the matter .. I guarantee you my rantings aren't worth much more that the time they take to read if that.

Keep on keeping on my friend!