LOGICAL AND REASONABLE AS PLATO

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I’M TRYING TO BE LOGICAL AND REASONABLE

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST AND THINK IT OVER…

One of the most troubling aspects of the modern-day “substance use disorder” treatment system is the stubborn reliance on a single pathway of recovery.

Namely, 12-step recovery. Mostly, AA and NA meetings/programs.

I found recovery through 12-step meetings and it is my preferred pathway to recovery.

However, in my professional work, I avoid pushing my recovery onto others. Sadly, the reality is, many providers still push 12-step only recovery.

YOU MUST COMPLY

Mandated programs and compliance programs almost always have a “recovery group” attendance requirement.

And far too often they sadly: ONLY ACCEPT 12-STEP RECOVERY GROUP ATTENDANCE.

This runs counter to all the facts and research surrounding recovery.

For example, let’s review the numbers.

THE NUMBERS

There are 22.35 million people in America who report having resolved a substance use disorder.

  • They “had a problem”.
  • They “no longer have a problem”.

I hope we can all agree, that resolving a SUD is a good thing. Regardless of how you get it done.

REQUIRED HELP

Of those 22.35 million people, 54% report that they had assistance in getting better.

In other words, 12,069,000 required help.

AA & NA

Of those 12,069,000 who got help, only 45% report that it came via AA or NA.

Therefore, 5,431,050 FOUND RECOVERY THROUGH AA or NA.

THE OTHER ALMOST 17 MILLION

THIS MEANS THAT 16,918,950 PEOPLE GOT BETTER VIA SOME PATHWAY OTHER THAN AA OR NA.

YET WE HOLD TIGHT TO THE IDEA THAT AA AND NA IS THE ONLY OPTION?

And we “professionalize” that by hanging steps in our treatment group rooms and mandating attendance to “12-Step Groups Only”.

FOR 12 STEP ENTHUSIASTS

Pause for a station break.

At this point, if you are a 12-step only enthusiast you have a couple options:

  • You can flat out deny the research and simply say “in my experience, this is the only way”.
    As if your experience speaks for the other 7 billion people on the planet.     Or you can –
  • You could deny the math. But run the numbers, it’s indisputable.

WHAT DID BILL BELIEVE

Finally, even the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous would reject this idea of “12-Step Only Recovery”.

Mr. Wilson would be appalled by the hubris and arrogance of promoting one way only.

Here are some quotes from Mr. Wilson.

Thank you to a global Alcoholics Anonymous expert, William White for the research:

  • “AA has no monopoly on reviving alcoholics”. (Wilson, 1944/1988, p.98)
  • “The average member of Alcoholics Anonymous does not suppose we have a cure- all”. (Wilson, 1945b, p. 239)
  • “In all probability, we shall never be able to touch more than a fair fraction of the alcohol problem in all its ramifications. Upon therapy for the alcoholic himself, we surely have no monopoly”. (Alcoholics Anonymous, 1955, p. ix)
  • “In no circumstances should members feel that Alcoholics Anonymous is the know-all and do-all of alcoholism”. (Wilson, 1965/1988, p. 332)
  • “Then, too, it would be a product of false pride to believe that Alcoholics Anonymous is a cure-all, even for alcoholism”. (Wilson, 1963/1988, p. 346)
  • “When you consider the ramifications of this disease, we have just scratched the surface. I think we should humbly remember this”. (Wilson, 1969, p. 9)

ON DOGMA & COERCION:

“It is a historical fact that practically all groupings of men and women tend to become more dogmatic; their beliefs and practices harden and sometimes freeze. This is a natural and almost inevitable process…. But dogma also has its liabilities. Simply because we have convictions that work well for us, it becomes very easy to assume that we have all the truth….This isn’t good dogma; it’s very bad dogma. It could be especially destructive for us of AA to indulge in this sort of thing”. (Wilson, 1965/1988, p. 333)

REASONING

It stands to reason that:

  1. The science and evidence supports opening the door to “Alternative Recovery Programs”.
  2. Bill Wilson would support alternative recovery models.

The questions that naturally arise are:

  • Why don’t more providers open the door to “Alternative Recovery Models”?
  • Why does the system allow such inappropriate conduct?

FOR THE RECORD

For the record, there are amazing programs in Greenville and the rest of the Upstate that completely support alternative pathways.

However, it is troubling that old school hold-outs are still permitted to operate.

Full report: https://www.recoveryanswers.org/…/1-in-10-americans-report…/