Misc AA - cure or cult?

[morning_bell]

I have been an alcoholic for 3 years (I know it's not that long). I'm 20 years old and drink at least a pint of wild turkey whiskey every night before i go to sleep (pass out). AA meetings, when I go to them, they make me want alcohol even more. Every time I go to an AA meeting I'm thinking the whole time "I can't wait to go home and settle down with a pint".

My grandpa drank heavily everyday for over 40 years and quit cold turkey through AA. He swears by it. He has been sober for two years.

My point is, AA takes after the "addiction is a disease" model. IMO, I think that is a very dangerous statement to alcoholics. It may be an excuse for some people to keep drinking because they are told that they "cannot control it".

Just want your opinions, guys.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

This isn't OD material... Search around and you'll find lots of threads debating 12 step efficacy and other related issues.

Before I close this, I just want to say that I see your point on the disease model being fodder for rationalization but acting like addicts/alcoholics can just stop on their own (that its 100% just their choice) is more dangerous in my eyes.

The disease model demonstrates addiction is a biopsychosocial disease and what I think is important to take away from that is in order to make real, sustainable change you have to address the biological, psychological and social causes and effects of addiction or you'll keep going back and gradually fucking up every aspect of your life.

Its easy to rationalize and every addict does it. Its up to you whether you want to destroy every part of your life with that wild turkey or find some way to address these problems. AA might not be that answer but I don't think wild turkey is either.


Closed.