Posted by Tony P on May 11, 2004, at 13:37:53
In reply to Re: Why AA doesn't always work..underlying pathology, posted by beatrix34 on May 11, 2004, at 1:01:42
Most AA groups I go to (and the big book) talk about alcoholism as a disease. Most treatment programs (and I believe the Diagnostic Manuals) also accept it as a disease just as clearly defined as cancer or diabetes.
This is born out by genetic studies - people with one alcoholic or addict parent have at least a one-in-seven chance of developing alcoholism, other drug addiction, or a related compulsive disease such as bulimia. With two addict parents, the odds go up to four-in-seven (almost 60%!), and that leaves out those parents and children who for one reason or another carry the genes but don't develop the disease.
Like many other diseases where there's a genetic predisposition, you _may_ not become an alcoholic even if you carry the genes (e.g. if you decide never to drink for some other reason), but there is really no doubt that alcoholism/addictive disorder is a disease. The thing is, that as it progresses it develops a whole set of typical destructive behaviours, "character defects", and psychopathology. After abstinence, these continue and then must be dealt with.
AA's recognize this, so (especially in groups with a lot of long-term sobriety), the discussion tends to focus on these life issues (admittedly, the language is antiquated and strongly oriented toward the original Oxford Group's spirtual/self-improvement approach).
AA is not for everybody, and the literature says so, although a few AA'ers disagree vocally - their privilege.Like another poster, I'm finding NA much more helpful these days. With possible exceptions, the typical NA group is a far cry from the early ones 40 years ago - every possible variety of addiction is represented, it is not just a group of bikers and street people (it never was, really), and I feel truly at home there despite my main adddictions being "just" to legal OTC pharmacy drugs and alcohol. In the groups I'm familiar with, the overall attitude in sharing is more personal and less rigid than _some_ AA groups, and people talk about everything from rock-bottom addiction issues to how they're tearing their hair out over their PhD thesis. Every group is different (literally autonomous), so don't judge either fellowship by just one or two groups.
Tony
poster:Tony P
thread:344818
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040409/msgs/345766.html