The Alcoholics Anonymous Alternative
Is there an alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous? Do the 12 steps really work? These are questions that most alcoholics will ask when they decide that they want to change.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) originated in Akron, Ohio in the 1930’s from religious individuals grouping together to solve their alcoholism. The 12 steps soon emerged as a formula for all addicts to follow if they were to stay sober.
From the very beginning, complete abstinence was seen as the only answer. Of course this does work for some people, but clearly not for everyone.
Figures for how effective the 12 step recovery process is are impossible to find. Estimates suggest only about 5% of people who attend meetings regularly stay sober for more than a year. Not much more than the placebo effect really.
However, AA and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) do develop networks of community support, which is undoubtedly very positive. The support given is from other addicts or alcoholics of course, not trained professionals. And by their very nature the meetings are public access, anyone can attend, so they are clearly not anonymous (especially when you are required to state your name).
The main objection many people have to the philosophy is its rigidity and ‘cult’ overtones – there are many references to relinquishing personal responsibility. The reams of cheap slogans don’t help much either.
Ok, so anyone who hasn’t seen them before must be wondering, what are these 12 steps then? Here you are –
- “We… admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.”
- “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
- “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
- “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
- “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
- “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
- “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”
- “Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.”
- “Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
- “Continued to take a personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
- “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
- “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles.”
Any of you who are not particularly religious might be squirming a little right now.
The Higher Power issue is the biggest problem that people seem to have with Alcoholics Anonymous or NA.
Handing over responsibility for your problems and the solution of them, it doesn’t sit well with modern approaches to psychological self-help does it? SELF responsibility and empowerment are essential to good mental health.
“One of the things they (AA) tell you is you are powerless – you must submit, that’s stupid. Once you become sober, you realize you do have the power to quit.”
Strangely there’s not many references to alcohol in those 12 steps. Or indeed how to prevent yourself giving in to cravings. It seems like will-power, determination and faith are supposed to get you sober. That and some apologies of course.
In my experience, people appreciate a more personalised view of their addiction and recovery, one in which each person’s background and personality are taken into account. The cognitive approach to addiction encourages the person to look at themselves and discover what they need to change, then helps them to make those changes in any sequence they choose. It provides strategies to understand the psychological mechanisms of your addiction.
The AA idea is to work through each of the steps with various written tasks. Should anyone relapse or have a drink at any point, they have to go back to step one and start again (snakes & ladders anyone?).
The Bright Eye view suggests that abstinence is not the only option, for many people a healthier level of consumption is possible. We help you to become the expert, so you are not dependent on either a group, or on your counsellor. You learn the skills to take control of your alcoholism.
Of course, there are different interpretations of these 12 steps, and many AA groups do advocate a more liberal approach, with the meetings themselves being seen as the higher power.
The AA view is there is no cure for alcoholism or addiction, it is seen as a disease, which again slightly removes any personal responsibility from the equation – “I can’t help it, I’ve got a disease”. We view it more as a set of habitual patterns, cognitive and emotional automatic behaviours that can easily be un-learnt and replaced with something healthier.
So there is an alternative to AA for alcoholics, and it just so happens that it is also truly anonymous.
Briefly, the greatest problem with the article is the author’s unfamiliarity with A.A. History, roots, and sources. The statements that suggest A.A. is a monolithic entity that rests on “abstinence,” relies on some “higher power,” and doesn’t believe in cure illustrates how devoid the article is as to accurate information about the original A.A., the fellowship today, and the changes that took place when Bill Wilson fashioned a life-changing program in the Big Book in 1939 that was far different from the original Akron program. In no case is “abstinence” the only factor. In no case can it be said that A.A. does not contain tens of thousands of Christians who have no truck with an “higher power” that some call a rock, a lightbulb, or Santa Claus. They rely on the power of God that follows salvatgion. Finally, the author seems not to know that every single early A.A. proclaimed that he was cured by the power of God. The “no cure” idea originated with a lay therapist who proved his point by dying drunk without relying on the power of God in his work and life. See Dick B., Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous; The Conversion of Bill W.; The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible; Real Twelve Step Fellowship History; Cured!Proven Help for Alcoholics and Addicts; and When Early AAs Were Cured and Why http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml. Respectfully, Dick B.
I find alcoholism to be a three pronged illness – physical, mental and spiritual. AA has been the key that has unlocked the door to my sickened soul (Steps 1-3). But it has been up to me, to push open that door and walk in (Steps 4-9). This process of cleaning up my past has put me in the picture, whereby I see my role in all my previous life drama’s. I now feel that I own my past. The compulsion to drink has been removed, and as stated in the Big Book, I get a daily reprieve contingent on my maintenance of my spiritual condition (Steps 10-12). Sound easy? Well it aint!
I find it curious that people still cannot decipher the difference between a spiritual program for living and religion. Furthermore the ridiculing of AA’s disease concept of alcoholism, suggesting that this is a scape goating or shirking of personal responsibilty. I have found that getting sober and working the Steps towards emotional sobriety to have been the most difficult and challenging experience of my life so far. However, also the most rewarding! I wish it were as easy as having God come down from the heavens and make my life instantly awesome. I think that such interpretations of AA’s 12 Step program of recovery (and living a spiritual life in general) to be quite amusing.
AA certainly hasn’t worked long term for me. Long story short, I desperately wanted to stop drinking. I was also in a abusive marriage. I have worked the 12 steps and did stay sober for 5 months straight, then began to drink on occation. AA made me feel so brainwashed and guilty for this, I logically, I knew something was wrong with this picture. Here are some personal issues I had with AA:
1. Having to have a sponsor and dicuss every aspect of life I WAS EVEN TOLD FOR MY SON AND I TO STAY IN AN ABBUSIVE MARRIAGE BC I HADN’T BEEN SOBER A YEAR YET!
2. Being constantly shamed,blamed, and guilted for all that is wrong with my life. Everything ties into my “character defects” or my not “accepting” situations.
3. The longer I attened meetings and the deeper I got into steps, the more hopeless I felt. I was not working on anything that would make my life worth living, merely hashing out problems around tables, and reading the big book as if it were a bible.
A lot of people at AA meetings are still sick people. People who are truly suffering from mental health issues that are being unaddressed. Addiction is an isolating,depressing illness. Especially the clubs seem to be breeding grounds for people to suddenly fit in, feel not alone, but still suffer. When you are suffering it was always said that it is of character defects, etc. Going to therapists, taking meds, working on having life goals,is frowned upon.
I don’t know, trying to move away from AA, I feel still affected by this brainwashing and would like to move away from it.
AA does not say it is the only way. What AA does say is that it works which it does -Just for Today – for me and that is good enough
Sobriety is more than not using alcohol or other mind altering substance it is about peace of mind and my ability to live my life to the full which is what my 12 Step Programme of Recovery and the Fellowship of AA gives me today.
My brain needed washing so if that is what it took then so be it – I am able to use it today – if others find another way which works for them that is good, though when that other way is focussed on negatives – I sense Denial
One can really tell the AA memebrs who are commenting here, their approaches are so similar-
ie any critisism of ‘AA’ is ‘denial’.
‘Give it 3 weeks and you can have yur misery back’- give it 3 weeks and you will be fearmongered into getting a sponsor and doing the steps… being told that otherwise you will face ‘jails, institutions and death’.
You might also get used as a free taxi or even get 13th stepped!
You will certainly be told what to do about yr job, relationship, etc… and btw you have to listen because you can’t trust your own thinking.
Any independant thought is ‘your diease talking.’
Dont get me wrong, there are good people in AA doing good things. But ‘my brain needed washing’? Come on…
There is NO excuse for the brainwashing I have seen in AA and experienced.
You can always tell someone who has been brainwashed, becasue they defend their programmed viewpoint by attcking/dismissing their critics rather than rationally defending their own view.
John- how do you rationally defend this lady being told to stay in an abusive relationship. Or are you just gonna throw another one of those pre-packed slogans at me?
I am alcoholic desperately wanting help to stop drinking, I have only admitted this to loved ones in the last couple of days.
I have thought about attending an AA meeting (I even called and got some advice), my boyfriend even went down to the local meeting to find out more, he went because I couldnt face it, he went because he is desperate to help me.
I have read all the leaflets he came back with and if I can pluck up the courage and attend a meeting. Reading some of the negative comments above have dented that courage and now Im not sure what to do.
Claire, I am exactly the same, contact me for a chat if you can x
I too have seen the shortfalls of AA . I Believe that alcoholism is an addiction and not a disease . I am also horrified at the prospect of having to attend meetings for the rest of my life . People tend to be over happy or very depressing to listen too . Sometimes the meetings drive me to drink.
Being an atheist doesn’t bode well either .
However as soon as I look for an alternative to AA somebody always asks for the bank details .
The question about choice over drinking is a tricky one because most addicts truly feel helpless in their addiction . At least AA is there to help …………….. Where is the non profit alternative ?
You could join the free forum on this site – there’s plenty of support and advice without any of the AA stuff.
Hi – I saw Clare’s post and I am in the same situation – I have been denying for years that I have a problem with alcohol, but after a weekend of emotional happenings, I really dont know what to do now ! I want to get back to normal life but cannot imagine an evening without a bottle of red wine !!!!
My problem is with meetings. There are hundreds of AA meetings in big Cities each week. In London there are over 600. Recently I had an extended holiday in Dumfriesshire Scotland and found approximately 6 meetings a week or less. Dumfriesshire is a rural county, of course, with a small population compared to London ; 150,000 to 7.5 million. However, it is perhaps 8 times larger than London at a rough guess. I stayed where it was 20 miles to the nearest meeting which was once a week. My point is that i know long term sober members who swear that they need at least 4 meetings a week to maintain emotional sobriety how could they do it in rural parts of the world ? I’m sure in America and Australia you could travel hundreds of miles to get to a meeting. Have AA members in big Cities become selfish or have they become addicted to meetings ? I live in London and the emphasis placed on attending meetings detracts from finding deep healing and God which is what you need to lead a sober life. AA has become a giant speaking factory and those who love to speak run the meetings. AA is definitely biased in favour of meetings and speaking as opposed to contemplation and silence. God can be found in either.
I think AA would be better off without so many meetings.
Joe
Congratulations, Joe. You have discerned much about A.A And here are a couple of helpful points: (1) Early A.A. founded in Akron, Ohio on June 10, 1935 had a very simple program that is actually published in one piece of A.A. literature. There were only five components: (a) Abstaining from liquor for good. (b) Surrendering to God absolutely. (c) Eliminating sinful conduct. (d) Growing through Bible study, prayer, seeking God’s guidance, and reading helpful religious literature. (e) Helping others get straightened out. See Dick B., When Early AAs Were Cured and Why. (2) In 1939, Bill Wilson fashioned a different program in his Big Book based primarily on the teachings of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr. But the emphasis was not on meetings. It was on finding God and establishing a relationship with him. (3) Then came the 12 dark years of Bill’s protracted depression and the proliferation on many spinoff ideas from Richmond Walker, Father Ralph Pfau, Ed Webster, Sister Ignatia, and even Clarence Snyder and two Jesuit priests. The emphasis began to shift to “sharing experience, strength, and hope” and ignoring the Big Book instructions for the 12 Steps. (4) Meetings proliferated not because of quality but because courts were sending people to them and a mountain of treatment programs were bussing people to them. My main point, based on 20 years of research, has been that it is important to know the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the early program; to become tolerant of the wide variety of views and meetings today; and to decide whether or not to seek God’s help and learn how the pioneers did it. God Bless, Dick B.
Thanks Dick B. I rely at present on the Holy spirit
at the core of my being to keep me sober. I am
definitely becoming and am a different person to the
one who ended up not being able to stop abusing alcohol.
I have the utmost respect for the whole simplicity
and effectiveness of STEP 1. A simple truth that i was
willing to work on, willing to see that me and alcohol
really dont get along as yous guys say over in America.
Thankyou for the clear insight into the basis of meetings
in the days prior to the Big Book. It seems that Bill Wilson
shaped and galvanised some very traditional religious ideas
and made them more understandable and approachable to
the suffering alcoholic ? His own Alcoholism and mystical
awakening to God allowed this to happen. Anyway im still
attending meetings but i hope i can help and spread a bit
of good cheer and make a cup of tea perhaps. Step 12
is the key to all this for me at the moment. Anyway sobriety
has made my life much safer and better. People dont
always like to speak about the benefits of a sober life out
of humility but peace, joy and tolerance of others
are just three of the fruits that i experience in my heart.
I am learning to be alone with God as his unique creation
and this paradoxically makes me move loving to be with.
Dick B. Thankyou for you kindness and tolerance.
As an adult child of two alcoholics (one died, one went into rehab (12 step program and became sober), and a Dr, I am stunned at the sheer arrogance of this ‘article’. Whilst, I do not dispute that the 12 step program is not for everyone, surely it is unnecessary to adopt this puerile, condescending tone when addressing an alternative to your counseling service. It saved my mother, who was not a religious woman, nor adverse to taking responsibility for her own actions. I can only wonder what qualifications you have.
The article does not adopt a puerile or condescending tone, it merely points out that there are some major difficulties inherent with the AA model, and that perhaps it is time some of them were revised, as many of these issues prevent people from seeking help through the 12 step route. There is no need for you to make it a personal attack by doubting my qualifications or experience.