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Alcoholics Anonymous and addiction doctors are fighting an outdated battle
Check out this article that describes the debate between complete abstinence and moderate drinking for recovering alcoholics in addition to the debate about the use of medication to assist with recovery. What do you think?
There are various studies showing different “types” of alcoholics- they range in number from three to five (that I’m aware of). One study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) researchers identified five subtypes of alcoholics from a study of 1,484 people who met diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence.
These subtypes (including their prevalence) are as follows:
1. Young Adult, 31.5%
2. Young Antisocial Alcoholics, 21%
3. Functional Alcoholics, 19.5%
4. Intermediate Familial Alcoholics, 19%
5. Chronic Severe Alcoholics
Depending on the type of alcoholic, complete abstinence seems to be the best approach. For other types? Well, the majority group, “Young Adults,” tend to outgrow/moderate their abusive drinking as they age.
Whether it’s alcohol dependence or other forms of substance abuse, there is simply no “one size fits all” solution. I qualify as a chronic, severe alcoholic, but I don’t see this as the defining disorder. I am an addict. I abuse a variety of drugs in order to achieve some sort of effect that takes me out of the moment. Self-medication combined with dependency issues defines my disorder.
Prescribed medication related to alcohol is not an effective solution for me. It doesn’t solve my desire to experience a certain state of being. It doesn’t solve my need for self-soothing or my difficulties coping with day to day challenges. I am bipolar I and take medication for this disorder, which is helpful. It’s important to note that I abused alcohol and other drugs while taking psychotropics, so it wasn’t an effective cure-all for me.
In order for me to refrain from active addiction (to multiple drugs) I need to practice abstinence and I need to have some sort of therapy, whether peer-based, skills-based or cognitive-behavioral. I also need to take medication to moderate my bipolar disorder.
So far, so good. I have been an abstaining and active member of AA and then NA for 22 years. I appreciate the targeted help I’ve received in therapy and by working “the steps” with a sponsor in recovery. I also sponsor within a community which supports my life-style and many of my values. Like all communities, NA is most certainly not perfect, and I have significant difficulties with their reliance on religious and quasi-religious concepts as well as other “cultural” memes. The world is not black and white. There is no one way. People can find different ways of achieving freedom from substance abuse. I want my culture to understand and demonstrate this understanding by practicing tolerance and support and encouragement for those who most likely need to pursue other avenues of growth.
I agree with you, crescentdave, there is no one way to achieve freedom from substance abuse. I also agree that support, encouragement, tolerance, and understanding are needed in our culture for individuals that need to pursue other avenues of growth. Thank you for sharing your views and actively supporting others that are on the road to recovery.