Re: Alternatives to 12 steps

[Guest guest]

Here in Australia, there are few alternatives to AA NA, etc. The hospital I

work for has an alcohol and drug service, which works mostly on the " harm

minimisation " model........how effectively, I'm not sure. So my question is;

do people with substance abuse issues NEED self help groups in the first

place (RR, SMART, XA etc.)? What alternatives are there? I know that our

health system here is different to the USA's, (we dont pay for it.....it's

government funded). Surely substance abuse treatment can be taken back from

the amateurs and given back to the professionals?

Some random thoughts for consideration.

Barnsey

[Guest guest]

Barney,

I think you are raising a good question. I have been giving this issue a

great deal of thought, and I wonder if the treatment industry (including

SMART, SOS, and RR) has been approaching this from the wrong angle.

It is my opinion that we all have the ability to make healthy choices, but

many of us don't know this. Also, the unhealthy choices we make can be a

result of either past or present issues that we may be unaware of, or may be

ignoring (or may not want to deal with).

But, the treatment industry has, in effect, told us that we need treatment by

either a professional, or by a group that runs by proscribed rules to be able

to overcome either the 'disease', or the habit of making unhealthy choices.

What I would propose is that the treatment industry get into the business of

education only. Education, to my way of thinking, has a whole different

connotation than 'treatment'. It can be more equalizing, and it can say

that the consumer has the ability to correct whatever the problem is with a

little more knowledge. By 'knowledge' I mean that it can be presented that

symptoms (like alcohol abuse) can be as a result of 'x' etc....

This is simplifying matters, of course, but I think the whole orientation of

authority vs. subservient (can't think of a better word here) needs to be

discarded in favor of presenting (and believing) that the consumer is really

his own authority.

In addition, I think it really is helpful to connect with peers since sharing

and talking about common problems is probably one of the most helpful ways to

help oneself. But, I would say again that this connection should not be made

under any type of 'laundry list' of issues, things to do, etc, but rather, it

should be spontaneous.

My two cents....:-)

Ellen

barnesy1@... writes:

> Here in Australia, there are few alternatives to AA NA, etc. The hospital I

> work for has an alcohol and drug service, which works mostly on the " harm

> minimisation " model........how effectively, I'm not sure. So my question

is;

> do people with substance abuse issues NEED self help groups in the first

> place (RR, SMART, XA etc.)? What alternatives are there? I know that our

> health system here is different to the USA's, (we dont pay for it.....it's

> government funded). Surely substance abuse treatment can be taken back from

> the amateurs and given back to the professionals?

> Some random thoughts for consideration.

> Barnsey

[Guest guest]

Acutely, RR is something you should look into. They no longer have a support group,and they don't think that any support group is necessary.

There information can be read on the net at http://www.rational.org/recovery

or you can buy there book. It is available at Amazon.com

Best of Luck