I just got home from a conference on Alcoholism treatments and the keynote speakers were from very different backgrounds. One was an MD and a practicing psychiatrist, the second was from India specializing in medical research and the last was a legislative advocate trying to raise awareness about the need for treatment instead of jail.

They all gave very complex and long presentations but they agreed on one thing: Addiction/Alcoholism is ONLY overcome with God. They can act as a bridge or a facilitator and that’s what a good therapist should do but without a connection to God the addict isn’t likely to recover.

They also agreed that their statements are totally politically incorrect in our post-modern world but they could only say that after MUCH research that is their conclusion.

I was shocked, I thought sure they were going to have some new technique or medication but they didn’t. They said AA and the “big-book” are still the best resources available and represent the best chance to help patients!

I thought it was important to let people suffering from this terrible disease know.


From: Drug-Addiction-Support.org

Dr's can only speak from the professional standpoint. And I call myself a Christian, and I am a true believer in the "Word". But I went to AA for my Alcoholism. AA speaks about trusting in a higher power and I totally respect that. When I am in AA, I call God my Higher Power because I do not want to offend those who don't know Jesus, or Allah or whatever else names are out there, and I don't want to offend the agnostics or atheist as well. For alot of us alcoholics, it is the power of the group's sharing their experience strength and hope that allows each of us individuals to somehow feel our higher power speaking to us. We call it the group's conscience. There are many times when I don't feel a "connection" to my higher power, but then I go to a meeting and listen to everyone from the newcomer to the "gurus" and I once again feel the connection of belonging to someone higher than me (no pun intended). Don't know if this makes any sense to you but it might to another alcoholic.

It warms my heart to read your words that AA does work even if one isn't dedicated to religious beliefs. Your words phrased it so well I'd like to write it in the sky for all to see. I hope all the AA chapters get a look at your words and pass it on to all who'd like to conquer this illness but get stuck on the first step. Kudos to you on your sobriety.

I prefer AA over NA even though I am not an alcoholic, the reason being is because I feel that being at a NA meeting is a "BIG" trigger for me as there are a lot of ex-meth users at them.

What excellent reasoning you use. I couldn't agree more.So happy I dedlied the addiction.

I now respect the program by choosing to take care of my "alcohol" problem. I like to think it is taking care of my meth problem too or my crack cocaine addiction or my marijuan addiction or whatever else. However, if I shared the other addictions in a meeting, some AA guru will most definately straighten me out that AA is for people that have a problem with Alcohol. I've been straightened out many many times in an AA meeting because I fail to listen sometimes. That part of me is broken still LOL. But now if I feel I need to go to NA or CA because I am having those specific cravings then I will definately go. But AA takes care of my alcohol addiction even though I forked out way more money on meth and cocaine. I drank booze for 16 years, snorted or smoked coke or meth for almost 10 years. But it all started with alcohol at the age of 13. That's why I choose AA over any other program, just because I got turned on to booze first. Not to mention AA was the first and formost 12 step program that ever started. So I give it the respect it needs. And it works for me. But one thing I learned real quick in this 12 step program is to NEVER SAY NEVER. That means I don't limit myself to the help I may need or think I need out there even if its outside of AA.

Spirituality is a major part of AA. Attending AA meetings -- up to a certain level -- is linked to staying sober. Yet University of New Mexico researcher J. Scott Tonigan, PhD, finds that those who endorse spirituality most strongly are not more likely to remain abstinent than others.
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oliviaharis

Interesting. Do you have any statics to back that statement up or was it just one person's view point/and or study? I understand the link to a higher power is what endorses the twelve steps of AA and reinforces Alcoholics to remain sober.This is the first step in AA so if one never gets beyond the first step why is AA so successful? What is the meaning of the link you posted in your post? It is an advertising site which has nothing to do with our forums here.

Thanks Chris... I removed the frivolous link

Regarding the subject matter, I agree with Lowster - I prefer AA over NA as well... meetings are different everywhere, but I find that in my neck of the woods (Silicon Valley, California) there is much better recovery at AA meetings, that the local NA meetings tend to attract a somewhat younger crowd that is generally less serious about recovery, with a little too much "13th stepping" going on to suit my tastes. I too am an addict, have never liked alcohol very much let alone been an alcoholic, but nevertheless I would always choose an AA meeting over an NA one based on my experience.

That said, I nevertheless have heard of it going both ways - I have friends and acquaintances in various parts of the country that have told me the exact opposite, that in their area NA meetings are where the solid recovery is, and you wouldn't want to be caught dead in an AA meeting.

- again Chris, thank you
many blessings,
Bernie G. - Forum Admin

The 12-step programs all teach living with a more "spirituality" way about you. It does not tell me straight out to be spiritual. If one is an alcoholic like me, and I know there are a few out there, then the term "spirituality' might fly out the door when a driver in front of me cuts me off or is driving to dammed slow. If you are an alcoholic of my type then you will find yourself inpatient at times and feel like the world is caving in on you. Where is my spirituality in that instant? The best I can describe my spirituality is the point I am in a meeting either listening with my ears wide open or participating in my recovery by opening my mouth and speaking to a group of people I hardly know. That hour and a half being in a room is probably the most I will be receiving of a "spirituality" lesson. That is all I get. I know for that hour and a half I am not drinking booze (or smoking crack or meth), I am safe. I feel I am under my Higher Power's wing, so to speak. I am safe from the crazy world out there and everyone is focused on just one thing, which is sobriety. We are not focused on Jesus Christ or Buddah, or Allah or anything else with a specific name. I feel God has allowed all his children of the world to come together, no matter what our spiritual or sexual indifferences are. And this is a really neat thing to see. This helps build my spirituality about me. But then I have to go out to this crazy world and live amongst other people. The term "spiritual" does not exist at times. It is my hope to be as spiritual as possible. But the reality is, I can never be perfect at it. The only perfection I have been able to muster up in my sobriety is the fact I have not had any alcohol or anything else affecting me from the neck up in a few years. All my actions have not been so perfect, but I have basically been perfect in sobriety by not drinking. That is a gift from my higher power and the program I choose to call home. If it wasn't for the program, I wouldn't see my Higher Power working in my life. The thing I am kind of afraid of is, if I ever make it to heaven, will my Higher Power be disappointed with me because I chose to put the program first before Him? Thats a scary thought in a Biblical kind of way but that is another issue and I am taught not to mix the "religious" with the "spiritual" stuff. The program does not teach us the religious stuff so this question would need to be directed to another forum. Hope this helps.