| The 12-step program is the main model currently | | | | all addictions can be completely abstained from. It's |
| used for the treatment of addiction If you look at | | | | possible to completely give up alcohol or drugs, for |
| the statistics, however, the actual success rate is | | | | example, but a person needs to eat on a regular |
| dismally low; perhaps 15% long-term. Sadly, no-one | | | | basis. It doesn't make sense for the program to tell |
| has developed an alternative to the program, so this | | | | an alcoholic that an essential part of their treatment |
| ineffective means of treating addiction remains the | | | | is that they must never have another drink for the |
| gold standard. | | | | rest of their life, while the over-eater doing the same |
| The program fails for a number of reasons: The main | | | | program must deal with food several times a day. |
| problem is that it considers addiction to be a disease, | | | | On top of which, abstinence deprives an addict of |
| and the disease model just doesn't make sense. The | | | | whatever comfort they might have obtained through |
| founders of the program weren't medical doctors, | | | | their addiction without offering them another way to |
| and weren't actually qualified to make such a | | | | meet their needs. This results in an increase in |
| classification. | | | | cravings, so that if the person is able to abstain from |
| The truth is, addiction isn't a disease; it's an | | | | one addiction, they'll often simply pick up another. |
| unconscious, dysfunctional choice. The addict has two | | | | Abstinence magnifies the drive to meet these needs |
| basic needs: to heal their long-standing emotional | | | | and thus supports further addictive behavior. |
| wounds and to feel loved, nurtured and comforted. A | | | | This explains why many people using the 12-step |
| primitive part of their psyche associates the addiction | | | | program to stop drinking, for example, either |
| with the resolution of these needs. | | | | continually relapse or turn, say, to overeating. Those |
| The disease model has the best of intentions: if the | | | | using OA either fail to lose weight or might go from |
| addict is sick, they shouldn't be condemned for their | | | | compulsively over-eating to compulsively dieting. |
| behavior. On the one hand this is positive, because | | | | Some became compulsive exercisers, spending hours |
| the person is psychologically compelled to be an | | | | each day at the gym, or turn to shopping, gambling |
| addict and is not deliberately trying to hurt | | | | or smoking. |
| themselves or others. On the other hand, this model | | | | The only way to prevent relapses or the transfer of |
| makes the addict a passive victim of their problem | | | | addictions is to find more meaningful and constructive |
| rather than someone who has a specific agenda | | | | ways, like psychotherapy, for example, to address |
| which they are attempting to fulfill (and which needs | | | | the emotional wounds and fulfill the emotional needs |
| to be met another way). | | | | at the root of the addiction. Rather than forcing |
| There is a physiological component to addiction. In | | | | oneself to resist a behavior, real healing would |
| addicts, certain parts of the brain, including an area | | | | eliminate the urge to engage in addiction. |
| called the "reward pathway" can be more sensitive | | | | The 12-step program denounces medications such as |
| to stimulation. Some people may even be biologically | | | | anti-depressants, anxiolytics or sleep aids, saying that |
| predisposed to a particular addiction, but not | | | | these medications are as harmful to the person as |
| everything that is passed along genetically is a | | | | the drugs or alcohol they're trying to give up. The |
| disease. Personality traits, eye color and singing talent | | | | program suggests that medications promote the |
| all run in families, as well. | | | | same emotional or physical dependence as typical |
| The 12-step program fails because is behavioral in | | | | addictive substances. |
| nature and ignores the emotional and psychological | | | | This demonstrates a serious misunderstanding of |
| factors driving addiction. As such, it doesn't provide | | | | how medications work. When prescribed by |
| tools for emotional healing. Abstinence, group support | | | | experienced, licensed practitioners and used |
| and working the steps with a sponsor are the | | | | appropriately by informed individuals, these |
| primary treatment modalities. | | | | medications actually promote freedom from addiction, |
| Neglect, abuse or trauma suffered in childhood can | | | | giving drug abusers and alcoholics appropriate |
| cause an individual to develop emotional wounds. | | | | treatment for their anxiety, depression, mania or |
| Deep in their psyche, a primitive survival mechanism | | | | sleep disorders. The majority of these medications |
| kicks in which drives the wounded individual to look | | | | don't cause either tolerance or dependence and can |
| for emotional healing as well as the love and nurturing | | | | safely be used long-term even in people prone to |
| that was missing when they were small. | | | | addiction. |
| People can be drawn to different addictions because | | | | When properly treated, these individuals can finally |
| of what is familiar - they drink because a parent did - | | | | achieve restful sleep and a stable mood. This greatly |
| or because of specific emotional needs: an alcoholic | | | | diminishes their cravings for the less effective alcohol |
| might want to silence a critical inner voice; an | | | | or drugs. Once they stabilize, they can then deal with |
| over-eater might want to comfort themselves | | | | their emotional issues in psychotherapy. |
| around pain or loneliness; a drug or alcohol abuser | | | | When people fail at AA, OA or CA, they are accused |
| might be attempting to soothe the symptoms of a | | | | of not "working the program" diligently enough. In |
| more serious mental illness such as insomnia, | | | | reality, it is the program that has failed these |
| depression or bipolar disorder. | | | | individuals who are in need of real healing for the |
| None of the treatment modalities of the 12-step | | | | underlying problems which are driving their addiction. |
| program address the addict's real needs. If a person | | | | When people are able to receive appropriate |
| has emotional wounds and especially if they are | | | | treatment for the causes of their addiction, they will |
| suffering from a real mental illness, they require actual | | | | no longer need to force themselves to abstain, but |
| treatment. It's ironic that the 12-step program sees | | | | will find that the urge to engage in the addiction has |
| addiction as a disease when in fact it's a misguided | | | | gone away. When someone is experiencing emotional |
| attempt at treating one's emotional wounds and/or | | | | healing and nurturing and is being treated for any |
| mental illness. | | | | psychological or sleep disorders, addiction becomes |
| The 12-step program promotes abstinence when not | | | | irrelevant. |