Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Like any think AA will work if you work at it. If you don't want to quit nothing will help until you are ready. My parents went a got sober and stayed that way for 40+ years until they died. You have to change yours friends, your attitude, etc. It took my Mom a few tries because she drank but then went back to AA right after. My Dad who was a mean drunk took to AA the first time and he was the one who didn't think he had a problem.
I've been there a few times myself in the past, but stopped as it just seemed to be sitting around listening to other people drone on, often about completely unrelated topics.
I've been there a few times myself in the past, but stopped as it just seemed to be sitting around listening to other people drone on, often about completely unrelated topics.
but many people seem to swear by it.
so, does it work?
AA works for one reason: It takes people who already have addictive tendencies and attempts to transfer one addiction (alcohol, in this case) to another addiction (religion). It doesn't actually cure anyone or fix anything. The person is still addicted to something, it just so happens that after AA, they're addicted to Jeebus instead of Jack. This is why so many AA "success stories" become the biggest bible thumping snores the world has ever known.
On the one hand, Jeebus is a lot safer a drug on an individual level than alcohol. On the other hand.....it really tends to make that person absolutely no fun to be around, and is simply masking a larger issue. I don't even know how many of my friends over the years have done an "A" (NA, AA, etc.) and now the only thing they seem to ever be able to talk about is Jeebus and how we should all start drinking Jeebus by the gallon - regardless of the fact that it's pointless for those of us without the addictive personality trait or that, aside from social drinking, most of us never touched the stuff like they did. Total one-dimensional bores. And I'm happy for them that they will likely live longer, but I'm sad for them that they're going to spend those extra years hidden away in a church being taken advantage of by hucksters, and how they've gone from being a really interesting individual to a mindless drone.
Like any think AA will work if you work at it. If you don't want to quit nothing will help until you are ready. My parents went a got sober and stayed that way for 40+ years until they died. You have to change yours friends, your attitude, etc. It took my Mom a few tries because she drank but then went back to AA right after. My Dad who was a mean drunk took to AA the first time and he was the one who didn't think he had a problem.
Agreed. it requires a change of lifestyle, And this can be especially difficult when it went on for a long time. Many times the person needs a wake up call, Like waking up outside or in a strange place or having a health scare that finally becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back.
I think that you may be right - and I would even go so far as to not have AA as an diversion program - becuase it imposes religion on people who may not belive in a Supreme Being.
Secular classes and voluntary drug treatment programs are acceptable - whether they are religious based or not - this would include AA or NA.
I would actually emiliminate plea bargaining for these substance abuse cases and make treatment(including the choice of AA or NA without being sent to prison otherwise - be made a standard sentence) - this would eliminate jail or prison time for "drug offendors" and focus on treatment for those who want to get it.
Those who don't want treatment will likely find themselves incarcerated for some more serious crime - but a large chunk of our prison population could be eliminated if we put "drug offendors" into treatment rather than jail and prison - and even more could be removed if we legalized marijuana - and ultimately legalized all drugs.
I would ultimately make use of any substance legal - while continuing to educate for non- drug use.
Just because I think that the government should not prohibit people from smoking marijuana, or taking "hits" of cocaine or meth - does not mean that I think that people should use those substances.
I only think that government should not criminalize their use. My stance does not endorse the use of such drugs.
In my opinion - anyone who uses such drugs is a fool.
"My stance does not "endorse" the use of such drugs. The problem is that by legalizing it, you (the U.S.) does endorse it. Most people would argue that for other laws (i.e. speeding)
It is difficult for the gov't to say please drive 65 even though the speed limit is 75.
I tend to agree with your basic message, but we can't legalize hard drugs w/o endorsing them.
AA works for one reason: It takes people who already have addictive tendencies and attempts to transfer one addiction (alcohol, in this case) to another addiction (religion).
........
The person is still addicted to something, it just so happens that after AA, they're addicted to Jeebus instead of Jack.
that hasn't been my experience. just the opposite in fact. in the years i've been in the program i've yet to discuss jesus ( or any other specific deity ) at any great length. come to think of it nobody in program has ever even invited me to church. i entered the program as an agnostic and i'm still there ( "GOD", in my understanding, is simply "Group Of Drunks" and the basic principles of physics ). the few times i have heard someone get "diety specific" in relation to GOD during a meeting they are usually very diplomatically asked to ****.
as to the OP: IMO it works if you work it. just that simple ( it's a simple program, not an easy one ). if you didn't like the meeting you were at try a different one. i've attended the stereotypical church basement ultra-depressing meeting to 6am bonfires on the beach, filled with dark humor and followed by a surf session.
.... but we can't legalize hard drugs w/o endorsing them.
i can drink, smoke, view pornography, burn the american flag, be insultive to our active military, be rude, be crude and be thoroughly unattractive...... all legally*.
do you believe the government endorses all of those?
I've been there a few times myself in the past, but stopped as it just seemed to be sitting around listening to other people drone on, often about completely unrelated topics.
but many people seem to swear by it.
so, does it work?
It's estimated that 3 million people have remained sober through AA. And it's widely considered the most successful way to get sober by the medical profession.
So yeah, it works.
Go to a lead/speaker meeting. No droning at those.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
