Steps to Freedom from 12-Steppism

12 Steps to Freedom from 12-Steppism

Inge Berge

Are you or a loved one struggling with substance abuse problems? Have you tried to stand by and support the problem drinker in your life, only to see him or her return to the bottle over and over again following periods of difficult, compulsive sobriety? Have you ever wondered why it seems futile to argue with "an alcoholic" about his alleged inability to let go of his habit; to regain a relaxed attitude towards his substance of choice and to life in general? Have you spent endless hours in Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon meetings only to feel like your life is still dominated by your relationship with alcohol? If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions, you may have a serious 12-stepping problem.

Americans employ a singularly odd approach to drug and alcohol problems: faith healing. Where much of the rest of the industrial world has allowed their health and legal systems to evolve past the magical realm and into the pragmatic when confronting substance abuse, Americans still insist that the proper way to solve addictive behavior is to flock to church basements to pray and recite slogans in unison with "other addicts," and declaring yourself to be just like them, powerless, "in recovery" - forever. An estimated 97% of treatment centers in the USA still rely on the 12-step method, despite solid evidence that this method yields no meaningful long term result for almost anyone, and can cause severe, lasting psychological damage for the many who repeatedly try it and fail each time.

Meanwhile, other approaches such as harm reduction, brief interventions, guided moderation strategies, motivational enhancement therapy and social skills training are gaining ground most everywhere else, with much better results for societies and individuals alike.

Why does America insist on remaining in the dark ages with regard to addiction treatment? The answer is multi-faceted and complex, and must be mined from larger political, social and economical arenas. However, one key part of the equation routinely goes unspoken: