AA may seem extreme, but then Alcoholism is an extreme illness. It will rob the sufferer of their self respect, honesty, decency, compassion, love, tolerance and judgement. It will replace love with hate, honesty with deceit, peace of mind with anger, guilt and jealousy. Fear will eventually dominate the sufferers whole life.
Alcoholism will destroy them and maim or kill those around them. When the sufferer eventually dies or is locked up for good they will leave behind people who genuinely loved them, but who’s lives have been shattered by behaviour they simply do not understand.
If you were diagnosed with a malignant tumour you would not expect to cure it with a couple of aspirin. You would undergo radical surgery, or accept that you were going to die from your condition.
These are the ONLY two options an alcoholic has.
Another quote from the beginning of the Chapter 5 How it Works.
"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly
followed our path. Those who do not recover
are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves
to this simple program..."
Yes the 12 steps are "...suggested as a program of recovery", but if you do not do them in the manner outlined in the Big Book
you will not get the recovery the book promises.
A bit later "Half measures availed us nothing..."
The complete Chapter 5 can be read at
http://www.healingresource.org/book.cgi?Page_58
Take care,
Michael