What do you know about Alcoholics Anonymous? Can it cure alcoholism? How does it compare to therapy?

Answer 1

There's no cure to alcoholism...

You can only "recover" from it.
That organization helps with the recovery.

Me? I'm a drunk, not an alcoholic.
Alcoholics go to meetings.

Answer 2

There is no "cure" for alcoholism because alcoholism really isn't a disease -- it's an addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous started the 12-step program and is based around the support group structure. It has been proven to be beneficial for people who want to stop drinking, and many people like it because they get to talk to people who have the same problems but come from all different walks of life and all kinds of different backgrounds. The support group structure is actually taken one step further -- each AA member has a "buddy list" of other people in the support group that they are supposed to call if they're tempted to start drinking again. So part of it works on the principle of peer pressure, but it's a positive form of peer pressure and when you're in that state of temptation you're being talked to and encouraged by people who understand exactly how you feel and have been exactly where you are. There's only one catch -- a person who is an alcoholic must admit that he/she has a problem and must WANT to get better. No amount of therapy or AA meetings or anything will cure an alcoholic who won't admit it or doesn't want to kick drinking.

Answer 3

Alcoholism is not a disease, it is a learned behavior, therefore, it can't be cured. You either learn new behavior or you don't.

I found therapy to be helpful, but, you have to be careful as a great many of the therapists out there are secretly members of AA and that skews their view of ways of abstaining.

AA is based on religious dogma. It does very little to help one to abstain and for the most part is a self-promoting, cult like activity. If you attend for awhile, you will see that very few people continue to attend meetings for more than a month or two. In fact, AA's own studies say that less than five percent get sober through AA.

Answer 4

AA can help anyone that wants to be helped. There is no cure for alcoholism. A person just has to take it one day at a time and not drink any more. Therapy is also good, so a person just has to decide which is best foe them. Sometimes a person has to be put in a hospital to safely sober up, because there can be complications. AA has mentors that help and I believe a person needs help when quiting alcohol. If a mentor isn't possible then a good friend or family member will do. If a person needs help then they should not wait and seek help ASAP from any source they think best for them.

Answer 5

There is no cure for alcoholism. Only abstinence (quit drinking). Alcoholics Anonymous is the most successful program in the world. It's been around since June 10, 1935.

The difference between AA and going to a therapist is that AA is free and there you hear from other alcoholics and how they got sober and made it through difficult situations without drinking. That's what it is all about.

**And those who make jokes about drunks and alcoholcs. The difference REALLY is that a drunk just can't admit to themselves that they need help.

Answer 6

AA is a great acheivement of man it allows uncurable alcoholics a society that will help them achieve soberness for extremely extended periods. However, through the twelve step program it takes a determined individual sometime to get comfotable with the idea that sober is normal. Oh the bonus is you get a confidential buddy that will be there for you if you feel tempted. Compared to therapy? hmm i believe this is the therapy recommended. Ah yes, by the way God is predominately the greatest force used throughout the twelve steps. Perhaps i should tell you that a white poker chip is the start of the program.

Answer 7

It works for some but alcoholism isn't really curable, more like containable. Staying sober is a daily task for many. Therapy is good but costs whereas AA is cheap to free to participate. Alcoholism is a tremendously destructive disease to the aspects of life and people it touches. Hope it or something else works for whomever you're asking for.

Answer 8

Supposedly, alcoholism is not curable. They call it a Disease but it is actually a condition. AA is a form of therapy. The biggest difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is that a drunk does not have to go to all those meetings.

Answer 9

AA is a thinly disguised religious program that is more interested in you becoming an AA member than you getting or staying sober. Only one of the 12 steps mentions alcohol, but half of them talk about God.

In several studies, including AA's internal Triennial Survey and one done by AA Board of Trustees, George Vaillant, AA has a 5% success rate for one year, no better than no program at all. However, Vaillant's study showed that people in their first year of AA had a MORTALITY rate four times higher.

The Brandsma study showed that those exposed to AA where four times as likely to engage in binge drinking that those who attempt quitting on their own.

If there is an underlying mental health issue (present in half of all alcoholics, according to the National Institute of Mental Health) you might be better off finding an ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) program. To find one in your area, go to:http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=act-ta_center&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay.cfm&contentID=10650
AA has a large, vocal anti-medication, anti-therapy faction that claim if you take medication you are not sober, and you will be shunned.

I tried using AA on and off for over twenty years, only managing a few months sobriety here and there. In 2001, I got help with depression, turned my back on AA and have been sober since.

Answer 10

"Now watch the culties bypass on the attack." i'm no longer a 'cultie'. I only recognize adequate about AA to carry close that you do not have any ******* theory what you're speaking about. i have been around the employer maximum of my life. It actually saved the lives my mom and others I easily have met over the years. i have witnessed human beings bypass from all-time low to having new lives, households and careers. They survived in tremendous section using help equipment AA delivers. i do not recognize what number cases my mom left contained in the course of the evening to bypass see someone she became sponsoring, someone who became about to or had began ingesting again. She would sit down with the guy, chatting with them and getting them previous that instantaneous disaster, often times getting them to the well being facility if needed. My God i'm happy with her for doing that. That potential to achieve out to others is what the crew is all about, and some thing you of direction do not get excitement from. the base line is that you're speaking about some thing of that you do not have any understanding, and making an complete jackass of your self contained in the technique. And did you recognize what? i extremely do not care if look like an asshole. What I do care about is the danger that someone who would income from a gathering would no longer bypass because they study your ridiculous comments.