4myshasta (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I have NO willpower in anything else in my life but I quit drinking 15 years ago without AA or ANY family/friend support. That's me and I'm not saying anyone can do it but I did so it's a proven, AA is NOT the ONLY way! I HATED AA and HATE it to this very DAY! This is NOT bragging. This is stating a FACT.

blackeconomics (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

SILLY OLE BUGGER

prschuster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

If you want to know more about alternatives to AA, put AA alternatives in your search engine. There are many of them including SOS, Rational Recovery, SMART Recovery, LifeRing, Moderation Management & Women For Sobriety. As for "knocking AA" I only speak for myself and say exactly what I think. As for the disease model, it either is a disease or it is not a disease. It can't be a disease for some & not for others. I say it's not a disease.

backwoodsmister (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

"prsheister," instead of bashing AA & trying to destroy the idea of a progressive DISEASE that has helped bring MILLIONS understand their addiction, could you enlighten us & tell the suffering addict about your "alternative" approaches? I hear alot of bitching, but not ONE SINGLE SOLUTION from you phonies. Maybe the homeless heroin addict can scrape up $100/hr for therapy or check into some new age spa rehab, huh? Let's hear the "alternatives" you have experience with, along with the PRICETAG.

prschuster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

"For you to try & discourage people from making their own decision about AA and possibly finding help, makes you a fucking close-minded, know-it-all prick"And you apparently don't give a damn about the millions who don't do well with the 12-step program, who don't need to be told that they have a chronic progressive disease, and who would do a lot better if they were made aware of alternative approaches to recovery that didn't label them as powerless, defective and diseased.

backwoodsmister (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I am not "hoodwinked" by the idea that Alcoholism is a disease. This theory did however, help to explain the unexplainable to MILLIONS of people that could not find relief otherwise. I don't want you to apologize, I could give a shit less if you hate AA, but you can't say it is bullshit when so many people are able to escape their addictions. For you to try & discourage people from making their own decision about AA and possibly finding help, makes you a fucking close-minded, know-it-all prick.

rimshot2008 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Too much to say in 500 characters, but when you were drinking, you had a metabolic change, and became unable to process alcohol normally. The liver is the primary organ involved. The "disease" does indeed progress in the liver, and if you want to call it ageing, that's OK, but the fact is it gets worse and the consequences of relapse are far worse than where you "left off". I have seen it hundreds of times. Relapse is NOT inevitable. Once you learn how to stay sober it's a piece of cake

prschuster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The effects of the alcohol would be worse now than they were 12 years ago when I quit because I'm 12 years older and my body is less able to handle the poison. Age makes a big difference.

rimshot2008 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

12 years. Good for you. Fr Martin is saying that if you resumed drinking now, that your alcoholism would have progressed during those 12 years, and the effects would be much worse than they were 12 years ago. You don't pick up where you left off - and that's a fact, Jack.

prschuster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

"prscheister, people like you go out of their way to try & say AA is bullshit..."You're not addressing what I have to say about the disease theory. I have no problem with people voluntarily going to AA meetings. But the misinformation about some imaginary progressive disease is just a way to hoodwink people into thinking they are in mortal danger of relapsing for the rest of their lives. Give me a break. I'm not apologizing for being able to see through that ruse.