AA is not the only way
At least not for most people. This is not to say that Alcoholics Anonymous is not helpful or sustaining for a lot of people. It just hasn't worked for 95% of the people who tried it... And that's AA's own statistic!
- 12 steps sounds great, but what does it mean?
- If you do 9 of them, can you be sober?
- How do you know if you are doing a step right or wrong?
- Are you really powerless to stop drinking?
- Is your sponsor really the best person to help you quit drinking and stay sober? --- and if he is powerless too, how can he help?
These are just some of the concerns people have about AA. The biggest problem with AA is a lack of consistency. There is no central body making sure that meetings work.
AA is like the internet- its power comes from networking, but the reliability of any one site should always be questioned.
AA provides no way to improve itself. Just because someone hasn't had a drink in twenty years doesn't mean that he/she has information that will help him/her get through the next thirty days.
AA is anti-medication. Sometimes medications can help. Only an expert can help you determine if you can benefit from medication in addition to psychotherapy.
I recommend SMART recovery as an alternative to AA. Their program is more scientific than spiritual, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
THE TRUTH ABOUT GETTING HELP!
The fact that you are still reading is exactly how most people get sucked into sham therapy...
Unfortunately, there is no one truth that, once understood, will set you free. Rehabs accross the country make millions offering their patented methods and one-of-a-kind programs. They're betting on a steady stream of new addicts looking for reform.
MOST REHABS DON'T WORK!
They lie, period. They fabricate ridiculously high success rates which can't be disproven. When I worked as Medical Director at Passages, they were claiming a success rate of 85%. Thirty percent of their admissions were readmissions- some people for the second or third time. People were allowed to go out on their own sometimes to spend the day with a friend or significant other, away from the facility. More than a few times I dealt with patients coming back from these trips intoxicated! In just the month after I left, I heard about numerous failures.
YOU'RE BETTER OFF AT A SPA
It's cheaper and the food is better! Just go to a spa- preferably one that doesn't sell liquor. When you are feeling better, see a qualified therapist and begin to devise a new life plan. That's the most important thing you can do.
YOU CAN LIVE A LIFE FREE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
It's not that you haven't been trying hard enough, but you need to try different things. The right psychiatrist can help you. Combining medication for your symptoms with a personalized and progressive series of psychotherapeutic techniques to help you strenghten your skills is the best way to get bettter.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL YOU
You should never be asked for money up front. They are counting on your shame as an "addict." My experience has taught me that if the treatment works, people are happy to pay and continue getting treatment. If a center has had problems getting paid, perhaps it's because they aren't doing a good job.
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