Addiction in America

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Alex

Yes, AA is a fraud.

A program that has proven successful for a large number of people is a fraud? And so far, the evidence that you are providing is a single episode of an entertainment show? (I enjoy Penn and Teller, but their Bull**** program is just swinging the pendulum to the opposite extreme on most topics, providing a HEAVILY slanted view of the given topic). And yes, I am sure you will find obscure testimony that also downplays AA. But the bottom line is that the program works for a vast majority of the people. Even if you believe that its success is strictly due to some placebo effect, does that make it a fraud?

There exists enough evidence (empirical, not anecdotal) to support the success of AA. Yes, there is some support to the contrary (particularly a Harvard study), so it is not a "slam dunk." No, AA is not for everyone and no, AA is not 100% effective. But its TRUE success rate speaks for itself.

Originally Posted by Alex

...my major complaint with it is that it is frequently legally mandated and despite what proponents will say, it is a religious program. If I were ever convicted of a DUI, odds are good that my government would give me the choice of going to jail or participating in a religious institution. That pisses me off, both at the government and at AA

I would say that it is a religious BASED program, not a religious program. I have brought this up with two different friends who have gained success through the program and BOTH have said that there are many non-religious options of the AA program.

But the bottom line is that if convicted of DUI, you have options: AA or jail. Would you prefer the only option to be jail? No one is forcing you to participate in a religious program - you always have another choice. However, I do agree that OTHER proven methods of alcohol recovery should be allowed - a third (fourth, etc.) option. But the bottom line is that no one is FORCED to AA (or at least shouldn't be - there have been a few exceptional cases of which the basis of has been thrown out in higher court appeals all the way to the Supreme Court).

But how about the second part of the statement that you are pissed off at AA that AA is an option to jail? What is the justification for this anger?

Originally Posted by Alex

Like I said, addiction is a condition beyond personal control. Becoming addicted is not.

Then you do not understand the psychological aspect of this disease.

No one starts drinking (or taking drugs, et. al.) to BECOME an addict (OK, yes, there are rare exceptions to this, but they are quite exceptional). The transition is beyond their control. It is a psychological drive fueled by a physical driver. The psychological/physical balance is different for each case, but both aspects are present. If you believe that every person has the capability to prevent becoming an addict, then I flat out say you are wrong and that you need to research the topic more.