How do I stop drinking Alcohol?

Question

I'd like to stopy drinking. What alternatives are there to the 12 step Alcoholics Anonymous program?

Answer 1

Part of AA dogma is that you NEED a group to quit. Support is helpful, but ultimately it is you that picks up the next drink or not.

I did not find AA helpful in any way, in fact, I feel it kept me from getting the help I needed by promising me that they had a solution, the ONLY solution. What they offered was a thinly disguised RELIGION. Many call it a cult, all I know is that they promised me that if I left I would DIE.

After 20 years in and out of the rooms, managing only a few months of sobriety at a time, I took responsibility for my actions and my recovery. I got professional help for depression, got involved with online groups for support, and have been sober for over 5 years.

Testimonials don't mean much, what do statistics show?:

-5% of newcomers get sober in AA
-5% of those who attempt quitting on their own succeed.
-People exposed to AA are 4-5 times as likely to engage in binge drinking than those who attempt quitting on their own. (Brandsma study)
-People in AA are 5 times as likely to DIE in their first year as those who attempt quitting on their own. (Vaillant study)
-80% of people who think they have a problem with drugs or alcohol quit on their own, only 10% seek any type of treatment. (The Harvard Mental Health Letter, Volume 12, Number 4, October 1995)

George Vaillant, Harvard professor, researcher, and member of AA's Board of Trustees attempted to prove that AA works. He later said of his findings, "Not only had we failed to alter the natural history of alcoholism, but our death rate of three percent a year was appalling."

Many AA members denounce statistics and studies, part of that reason, I suppose, is that there have been NO controlled studies that prove AA works better that any other method or no method at all.

Here are some alternatives:

S.O.S. Secular Organizations for Sobriety- (Lots of good stuff here
too.)
http://www.sossobriety.org/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sossaveourselves/

LifeRing Secular Recovery
(compatible with all other recovery groups, just no God talk allowed)
http://www.unhooked.com/

Women For Sobriety
http://www.womenforsobriety.org/

Smart Recovery (Many Many great tools to get and stay clean and
sober, all FREE- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
http://www.smartrecovery.org/

Rational Recovery Not a support group, but a recovery method that many swear by.(free introductory tool- AVRT, is very effective) The rest of the program must be paid for, but its a lot cheaper than rehab.
http://www.rational.org/

16 Steps of Discovery and Empowerment
http://members.tripod.com/~NadineGaye/16steps.htm

Answer 2

Takes One To Know One, So Listen Up...well there are any number of alternatives but AA is the best. take it from me; I know cuz I been there and done that too many times. been drinking for 30 years and been an alcoholic for probably at least, well I don't know, but most of the time. I only drink beer and only 7 or 8 when I drink. been in rehab three times. been in and out of AA. worked the program, went to meetings, did fine, quit going and soon started drinking again. if your like me and every other alcoholic you are probably trying the same things to quit over and over and over and getting the same negative results. AA teaches you a new way of life and a new way of thinking and looking at yourself and the world. needless to say I'm not going to meetings and not currently involved in AA and have got only about 12 days sober now and feel like ****! I think I can do it this time! but in reality if I don't start going to meetings again I'll almost certainly end up drinking again. YOU SEE, it's that word "almost" that fools everyone into thinking they can beat it this time. I should know better. I haven't had more that 3 or 4 weeks in a row sober in the last 7 years, ever since I was in rehab last. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 3

Duh, nerves produces certain bacterias that cause zits, and all you were doing is everything that calms your nerves. Now that you have gotten rid of bad habits I suggest you replace them with good ones. Drink water a lot trough the day. Don't touch the zits, unless when you wash your face, which you do often. There are also special products for washing problematic face, but they are usually expensive. Drink yogurt, most have the bacteria that counter the ones that are giving you problems. Try being more calm in case you are a nervous person. Try a massage (doesn't have to be a professional one, just ask a friend or a college, if you think they'll do it), maybe spend some time relaxing in a bath.

Answer 4

Finnis is correct and he is also a person who still believes he can beat the drinking thing on his own or maybe even control it. . . GOOD LUCK.
I too tried everything I could think of so that I wouldn't have to admit I had a real problem and go to AA but the best thing I ever did was to get to AA and this time to stay and work that 12 step program. . . it has literally saved my life.
Keep doing what you are doing and you will keep getting what you are getting.
We all knew how to stop but AA taught me how to stay stopped.
I could give you the AA rah rah rah but until you are ready to hear it,all you would hear would be blah blah blah.
AA waited for me and AA will wait for you.


P.S. EVERBODY will give you all kinds of advise but if you are a true alcoholic,the only thing those bits of advise will do is give you short lived periods of false hope.

Good Luck

Answer 5

First of all you need to really want to stop, you need to have a real reason in order to fight the cravings. I will suggest for you to replace the alcohol with something else. I have some natural products that could help you. You will love them, they will clean your kidney, lungs, liver and pancreas, but you have to be strictly willing to stop. It will clean your whole system and take out all that stuff out. If you are interesting let me know at [e-mail]
My friend uses it and he smokes too, and he is happy with the results. If you want I can send you some information and you can ask your doctor.

Answer 6

good for you at least you know you need to quit...try being around friends that dont drink go to support groups go to church talk to people who care...they are out there and you can quit...it's one less monkey on your back

Answer 7

Get another hobby. Try fishing, hunting, golfing.

Answer 8

Medication - campral

Answer 9

heres an easy one
dont buy it

Answer 10

just stop i know it will probly suck but thats the best way