Hi, I’m Bob and I’m NOT and alcoholic!
I’ve put alcoholism behind me. I’ve been involved directly with, and remain closely associated with, a rehab program/facility in our area.** I’ve never known a 12-step program to work long-term for anyone** and I doubt there are any statistics to prove that they work better than any other programs. In fact, they usuall perpetuate the idea in the individual’s mind that they’re an alcoholic or addict forever – making it easier for them to slip when temptations push the limits (becuase they’ve been convinced by the program that it’s the essence of their nature). That’s nonsense.
Respectfully disagree. We've never met, but if we had, you would know one person for whom AA has worked. I am two days away from 25 years of continuous sobriety. My case was hopeless and I had given up. I "knew" that AA would not, could not, work for me. Luckily, I was dead wrong. And since I have stayed an active member of AA all these 24.99 years, I know hundreds of alcoholics for whom it has worked - men and women with a few months of sobriety as well as many dozens with 25+ years. Does it work for everyone? Certainly not. I'd guess the success rate these days is in the 15 to 20 percent range. Not good numbers for a baseball player, but better than the 0 to 5% that alcoholics seem to manage unaided. But if church or treatment or triathlon or a new girlfriend can keep someone sober, I celebrate their success. I used to feel strongly that AA was The Only Way. I have amended that over the years so that I now say that AA is the way that has worked for me. Not trying to be contentious, but wanting those without knowledge of AA to know that, while far from perfectly effective, it has worked for many people world wide since 1939.
Ben