Alcoholics Anonymous hardly sounds like a proven method, says Melanie Solomon, author of a new book showing alternatives to AA for treating alcohol and substance abuse. In fact, it doesnt work for most people.
A recovered pill addict who found AA morally defeating, Solomon wrote her newly released 2nd Edition of AA Not the Only Way, to shed light on alternative methods and treatment programs that work as well or better than AA.
Solomon is quick to give acknowledgment to the tremendous contribution AA has made to those it has helped but suggests the numbers are just too overwhelming not to explore alternatives for those not being served well by 12-step approaches. So when asking the question, "is alcoholics anonymous effective," the answer depends on what your definition of "effective" is.
Only 5% of those who seek AA for help remain in the program after one year, says Solomon, citing an internal AA document that contains data from five surveys conducted from 1977 to 1989. The numbers show:
81% of AA attendees are gone after one month
90% are no longer present after three months
93% retreat by six months
95% abandoned the program after one year
In fact, 45% of those who attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings never come back after their first session.
"93-97% of conventional drug and alcohol treatment centers are 12-step or AA-based, so those who have departed AA to look somewhere else for advise, are essentially rejoining AA," notes Solomon.
She found herself seeking help from AA while attending law school, attending the required 90 meetings in 90 days and found that saying she is an alcoholic over and over is a negative affirmation bringing about only negative consequences.
"They sought to convince me I was the victim of an incurable, progressive and fatal disease, that following their program was the only solution, and that I must give up my own thinking to a Higher Power," she adds. "But I ended up feeling worse and worse, and my self-esteem kept getting lower and lower."
She went through twelve years of the vicious cycle of rehabs, sober livings, AA meetings, and relapses. She has found alternative methods that have been beneficial for her health, and now, at age 36, she finally feels free.
Some surveys and studies make known the most practical way to heal is actually through self-cure, rather than a program. Although a Harvard project shows only 20% of all alcoholics kick the habit for good, of those that do get better as many as 77-82% did it on their own without the use of a formal program.
One-size-fits-all treatment is not possible, Solomon says. Treatments must be as diverse as the people seeking it. But that said, AA works for some people--maybe 5%. Certainly it is not for everyone.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse seems to agree, stating "No single treatment program is right for everybody. Matching the treatment program to each individual's needs is critical to success."
"It is finally time to stop living in the dark ages of recovery, educate people about all of their options that are out there. Maybe we will start making a dent in the alcohol and substance abuse problem that millions are facing each day instead of continuing to prolong it," says Solomon.
Leading U.S. addiction expert Dr. Marc Kern states, "I have long awaited this directory of addiction treatment alternatives. It represents what I believe to be the future of the field. It is a pioneering effort to organize this unique body of knowledge. A directory of this type was never available before."
Dr. Frederick Rotgers, another leading addiction expert explains, "The problem is finding treatment providers who provide these alternative, evidence-based approaches. Melanie Solomon has taken a wonderful step toward making that process, of identifying alternatives to traditional treatments, easier.
A recovered pill addict who found AA morally defeating, Solomon wrote her newly released 2nd Edition of AA Not the Only Way, to shed light on alternative methods and treatment programs that work as well or better than AA.
Solomon is quick to give acknowledgment to the tremendous contribution AA has made to those it has helped but suggests the numbers are just too overwhelming not to explore alternatives for those not being served well by 12-step approaches. So when asking the question, "is alcoholics anonymous effective," the answer depends on what your definition of "effective" is.
Only 5% of those who seek AA for help remain in the program after one year, says Solomon, citing an internal AA document that contains data from five surveys conducted from 1977 to 1989. The numbers show:
81% of AA attendees are gone after one month
90% are no longer present after three months
93% retreat by six months
95% abandoned the program after one year
In fact, 45% of those who attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings never come back after their first session.
"93-97% of conventional drug and alcohol treatment centers are 12-step or AA-based, so those who have departed AA to look somewhere else for advise, are essentially rejoining AA," notes Solomon.
She found herself seeking help from AA while attending law school, attending the required 90 meetings in 90 days and found that saying she is an alcoholic over and over is a negative affirmation bringing about only negative consequences.
"They sought to convince me I was the victim of an incurable, progressive and fatal disease, that following their program was the only solution, and that I must give up my own thinking to a Higher Power," she adds. "But I ended up feeling worse and worse, and my self-esteem kept getting lower and lower."
She went through twelve years of the vicious cycle of rehabs, sober livings, AA meetings, and relapses. She has found alternative methods that have been beneficial for her health, and now, at age 36, she finally feels free.
Some surveys and studies make known the most practical way to heal is actually through self-cure, rather than a program. Although a Harvard project shows only 20% of all alcoholics kick the habit for good, of those that do get better as many as 77-82% did it on their own without the use of a formal program.
One-size-fits-all treatment is not possible, Solomon says. Treatments must be as diverse as the people seeking it. But that said, AA works for some people--maybe 5%. Certainly it is not for everyone.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse seems to agree, stating "No single treatment program is right for everybody. Matching the treatment program to each individual's needs is critical to success."
"It is finally time to stop living in the dark ages of recovery, educate people about all of their options that are out there. Maybe we will start making a dent in the alcohol and substance abuse problem that millions are facing each day instead of continuing to prolong it," says Solomon.
Leading U.S. addiction expert Dr. Marc Kern states, "I have long awaited this directory of addiction treatment alternatives. It represents what I believe to be the future of the field. It is a pioneering effort to organize this unique body of knowledge. A directory of this type was never available before."
Dr. Frederick Rotgers, another leading addiction expert explains, "The problem is finding treatment providers who provide these alternative, evidence-based approaches. Melanie Solomon has taken a wonderful step toward making that process, of identifying alternatives to traditional treatments, easier.
About the Author:
To obtain your FREE article on how you'll get the most effective treatment, go to http://www.aanottheonlyway.com/special-reports/specialreports.php. Newly released 2nd Edition of "AA-Not the Only Way" by Melanie Solomon is now available at a low, introductory price of $12.95 for the soft-cover book, or $9.95 for the e-book. Special bulk pricing is also offered. Both are available for purchase online at www.aanottheonlyway.com.
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