I'm an Addiction Recovery Coach and have 17+ years in recovery. I've also worked in treatment centers for over 10 years. I have a family that has been tragically affected by the results of addiction. I know from experience what this disease looks like in it's various forms and stages, including recovery.
I'm an Addiction Recovery Coach and have 17+ years in recovery. I've also worked in treatment centers for over 10 years. I have a family that has been tragically affected by the results of addiction. I know from experience what this disease looks like in it's various forms and stages, including recovery.
I am very concerned regarding this podcast. I have NEVER commented on a podcast before and I apologize that this is a lengthy comment. I'm just extremely worried the biased information shared in this podcast has the potential to kill some alcoholics or extend their misery and increase the damage done to their families, loved ones, their health and society.
When we are in the grips of our addiction, we will go to great lengths to try and control our drinking. Our deepest desire is be able to keep drinking forever without suffering the consequences. The idea of a medication that allows us to control our drinking would be a dream come true. Especially if it means we don't have to go to AA or address the difficult underlying issues that cause us to drink and use. Your podcast could give someone false hope that they have a plan to address their problem drinking. They can even play your podcast for their loved ones to prove they have a legitimate recovery plan. While I see the benefit of Naltrexone as a tool to help with cravings. My observations is it only works as part of a much more thorough recovery plan. After all, our drinking is not simply a response to cravings. It's due to several possible causes. For example, we often have a genetic disposition for addiction from our family. We have possible trauma and abuse in our past. We struggle with mental health, environmental influences and other dysfunctional circumstances in our lives. If we just take a medication that addresses cravings, then we might not be motivated to address our underlying issues like trauma, dysfunctional childhoods, abuse, mental health issues, etc.
Another part of the podcast that is very disappointing is the negative portrayal of Alcoholics Anonymous. To say AA's effectiveness is in the single digits is disgustingly uninformed, biased, inaccurate, dismissive and dangerous. Every program struggles to achieve a positive success rate because it is very difficult. Most people that enter recovery and treatment are not there completely on their own accord. They are often forced or nudged by concerned family members, employers, the legal system, negative consequences of their actions, etc. Since they really aren't there because they want to stop drinking or using, their chances of staying in recovery are almost zero. They are not ready to commit to the changes required to stop their problem use or drinking so they go back. However, the success rate for people willing to truly address their addictions and underlying issues is probably close to 75%. Maybe a little less if you account for relapses but some of those people get reengaged and are successful going forward. All programs can give people a decent start on their recovery journey. However, it's eventually up to the individual to take responsibility for their recovery. You can't fault any program if someone isn't successful since no program, except maybe jail, can physically stop someone from drinking/using if they want to.
12 Step Programs have saved millions of lives for more than 80 years. There is NO program or approach that has that kind of LONG TERM record of success. Not only do these programs help people stop drinking and using. They also help people rebuild relationships with loved ones, improve their outlook on life and positively contribute to society. I've seen true miracles in 12 step programs and hundreds of examples of incredible kindness, support and love from AA members for their fellow addiction sufferers. I've seen families saved and flourishing due to 12 step recovery. I've seen people in almost full liver shutdown come back and help numerous people avoid the same hell of slowly dying an awful death. I've seen incredibly tragic stories be turned around to give other people hope that anyone can come back from the grips of addictions. I GUARANTEE, you won't see these kinds of beautiful events if people just take a pill that might keep them sober, but doesn't help them create a life so complete that they don't want to go back to drinking or using.
One final point, AA and 12 Step programs are FREE!!! When people are so concerned about the cost of treatment, why do some people downplay a program that requires no financial sacrifice of it's participants? These programs are also available in almost every country in the world literally every second of everyday. They are available in very rural areas and the biggest cities in hundreds of languages. There are even meetings in China where they are outlawed but continue to be there for the next person that is suffering from this disease.
Does that sound like a program with single digit success rates?
The podcast did not disparage AA for all. I think it made it possible to have another option. As with most things, more than one option may be the answer. AA relies heavily on a "higher power". what if someone doesn't have one?
During 36 years of sobriety based on AA principles, I recognize that many times the only higher power l was capable of seeking was the one who is greater than alcohol. For alcohol was truly the power l knew as greater than myself as l reached the end of 30 years of drunken struggles to live life on my terms. At many other times, I can contemplate God, but I'm sure I'm not the only alcoholic who sometimes clung to His most basic manifestation in our lives in a difficult passage. Doorknobs, lightbulbs and medicinal props may work for others, but never did it for me.
I'm an Addiction Recovery Coach and have 17+ years in recovery. I've also worked in treatment centers for over 10 years. I have a family that has been tragically affected by the results of addiction. I know from experience what this disease looks like in it's various forms and stages, including recovery.
I am very concerned regarding this podcast. I have NEVER commented on a podcast before and I apologize that this is a lengthy comment. I'm just extremely worried the biased information shared in this podcast has the potential to kill some alcoholics or extend their misery and increase the damage done to their families, loved ones, their health and society.
When we are in the grips of our addiction, we will go to great lengths to try and control our drinking. Our deepest desire is be able to keep drinking forever without suffering the consequences. The idea of a medication that allows us to control our drinking would be a dream come true. Especially if it means we don't have to go to AA or address the difficult underlying issues that cause us to drink and use. Your podcast could give someone false hope that they have a plan to address their problem drinking. They can even play your podcast for their loved ones to prove they have a legitimate recovery plan. While I see the benefit of Naltrexone as a tool to help with cravings. My observations is it only works as part of a much more thorough recovery plan. After all, our drinking is not simply a response to cravings. It's due to several possible causes. For example, we often have a genetic disposition for addiction from our family. We have possible trauma and abuse in our past. We struggle with mental health, environmental influences and other dysfunctional circumstances in our lives. If we just take a medication that addresses cravings, then we might not be motivated to address our underlying issues like trauma, dysfunctional childhoods, abuse, mental health issues, etc.
Another part of the podcast that is very disappointing is the negative portrayal of Alcoholics Anonymous. To say AA's effectiveness is in the single digits is disgustingly uninformed, biased, inaccurate, dismissive and dangerous. Every program struggles to achieve a positive success rate because it is very difficult. Most people that enter recovery and treatment are not there completely on their own accord. They are often forced or nudged by concerned family members, employers, the legal system, negative consequences of their actions, etc. Since they really aren't there because they want to stop drinking or using, their chances of staying in recovery are almost zero. They are not ready to commit to the changes required to stop their problem use or drinking so they go back. However, the success rate for people willing to truly address their addictions and underlying issues is probably close to 75%. Maybe a little less if you account for relapses but some of those people get reengaged and are successful going forward. All programs can give people a decent start on their recovery journey. However, it's eventually up to the individual to take responsibility for their recovery. You can't fault any program if someone isn't successful since no program, except maybe jail, can physically stop someone from drinking/using if they want to.
12 Step Programs have saved millions of lives for more than 80 years. There is NO program or approach that has that kind of LONG TERM record of success. Not only do these programs help people stop drinking and using. They also help people rebuild relationships with loved ones, improve their outlook on life and positively contribute to society. I've seen true miracles in 12 step programs and hundreds of examples of incredible kindness, support and love from AA members for their fellow addiction sufferers. I've seen families saved and flourishing due to 12 step recovery. I've seen people in almost full liver shutdown come back and help numerous people avoid the same hell of slowly dying an awful death. I've seen incredibly tragic stories be turned around to give other people hope that anyone can come back from the grips of addictions. I GUARANTEE, you won't see these kinds of beautiful events if people just take a pill that might keep them sober, but doesn't help them create a life so complete that they don't want to go back to drinking or using.
One final point, AA and 12 Step programs are FREE!!! When people are so concerned about the cost of treatment, why do some people downplay a program that requires no financial sacrifice of it's participants? These programs are also available in almost every country in the world literally every second of everyday. They are available in very rural areas and the biggest cities in hundreds of languages. There are even meetings in China where they are outlawed but continue to be there for the next person that is suffering from this disease.
Does that sound like a program with single digit success rates?
Kelly from Denver, CO
Bravo. The 12 Steps saved our family.
The podcast did not disparage AA for all. I think it made it possible to have another option. As with most things, more than one option may be the answer. AA relies heavily on a "higher power". what if someone doesn't have one?
During 36 years of sobriety based on AA principles, I recognize that many times the only higher power l was capable of seeking was the one who is greater than alcohol. For alcohol was truly the power l knew as greater than myself as l reached the end of 30 years of drunken struggles to live life on my terms. At many other times, I can contemplate God, but I'm sure I'm not the only alcoholic who sometimes clung to His most basic manifestation in our lives in a difficult passage. Doorknobs, lightbulbs and medicinal props may work for others, but never did it for me.
My higher power is my obligation to, and desire to be there for, my family.
Higher power isn't God (although it can be for many).
My point being everyone has a higher power they just need to discover it.