Addiction in America

[Not Afraid]

All I can say is that I'm glad you're not an alcoholic or an addict, Alex.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

All I can say is that I'm glad you're not an alcoholic or an addict, Alex.

Why? The studies indicate that I have about the same chance of kicking it as anybody else? But can you explain to me how those five steps do not require belief of a religious nature? Or at least a belief that almost all of us would laugh out of the room if put forward in a biology class?

But I too am glad I'm not an addict. Addicts tend to do stupid **** and if I have one phobia it is embarrassment. Being addicted to something seems like a surefire recipe for me to be embarrassed a lot (which is why my one drink-to-puking-in-the-bar-on-the-waitress incident was enough to keep me to 6-12 ever since).


I agree with Steve that the treatments ultimately (though way off in the future probably) are likely to be pharmacological (either in drugs that can "cure" the addiction or in creation of drugs that can create the highs without addiction).

Steve, I believe the 20% study was a multi-year study (sobriety without treatment among alcoholics approaches 50% over a ten year span) and also self-selected. That is one irony I find in enforced-AA. That if AA does have a benefit it is mostly likely to manifest among self-selected participants (those who were already motivated enough to find assistance in quitting) which is a benefit largely negated by mandated participation.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Alex

Why? The studies indicate that I have about the same chance of kicking it as anybody else?

Are you saying that an alcoholic has the same chance of recovering without any assistance as if he/she relied on AA?

[Alex]

I'm saying that according the AA's own internal surveys of all participants, that would appear to be the case. The 1989 survey that was leaked showed the 5% success rate over one year which is the same as found among untreated alcoholics.

But neither am I saying that I recognized myself as an alcoholic that I would seek no treatment. I would not seek treatment through AA and pretty much every researcher agrees that AA shows no significant improvement over alternate treatments. I just do not think it is a useful part of the process to find a god.