The DU Lounge

Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

62. The biggest thing you have going for you is the desire to quit

Mon Feb 3, 2014, 04:13 PM

Feb 2014

The efficacy of AA is misrepresented by AA as a function of how many people go vs how many people quit. If you make the decision to go to AA, you're already in the subset of all alcoholics that are the most likely to quit. The vast majority of people who do quit drinking do so with no assistance. Compared with people who just decide to quit on their own, the efficacy of AA is ambiguous at best.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

101 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is AA a legitimate group? I went to one meeting and something just didn't seem or feel right. [View all] ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 OP

It's a legitimate organization blogslut Jan 2014 #1

tenets HERVEPA Jan 2014 #14

Tennis, anyone? Orrex Jan 2014 #17

sorry blogslut Jan 2014 #22

heh. SammyWinstonJack Jan 2014 #24

Not trying to shame. Sorry. HERVEPA Jan 2014 #35

Not actually ashamed. blogslut Jan 2014 #37

Oh good. Don't want to be rude. HERVEPA Jan 2014 #40

Blame it on SpellCheck. Feral Child Mar 2014 #96

Yes, it is.... Wounded Bear Jan 2014 #2

Thanks for the good advice you gave me. I was just wondering that's all. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #4

So I shouldn't just taper off just everything Cold Turkey ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #12

Do what works for you... Wounded Bear Jan 2014 #18

You can't cold turkey Paxil. 840high Jan 2014 #19

ditto on the not going cold turkey off Paxil, BUT MH1 Jan 2014 #32

Please stop calling the Big Book a "Bible" TrogL Feb 2014 #58

Meh...it's an allegorical statement... Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #83

It seemed everyone gave their story when it was my turn ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #3

I really want you to UncleYoder Jan 2014 #5

^^^ This. Iggo Jan 2014 #8

Thanks I was taking up alot of the time now that I think about it. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #10

i have a family member anasv Feb 2014 #51

hey Arnold Skittles Mar 2014 #92

I chair AA meetings - most groups have a 5 minute rule and no crosstalk TrogL Feb 2014 #59

Find a Meeting RobinA Jan 2014 #11

I don't know whether to wean myself off everything would be safer than just quitting all ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #13

If you are taking prescription medicine elleng Jan 2014 #15

I say this sweetapogee Jan 2014 #41

I don't know you, and your level of "using" doesn't seem catastrophic in the short term at least. nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #44

Yeah, they don't like "cross talk" or asking people about what they said. They also usually don't GreenPartyVoter Feb 2014 #84

DO NOT COLD-TURKEY XANAX! Feral Child Mar 2014 #97

there is a substance abuse treatment group (not AA) owned by a cult eShirl Jan 2014 #6

roots in St Johnsbury, VT handmade34 Jan 2014 #7

Good job checking out AA BensMom Jan 2014 #9

They def helped me when I stopped drinking mimi85 Feb 2014 #80

I think so libodem Jan 2014 #16

Thanks my sister is going to take me to rehab. now ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #20

Best of luck libodem Jan 2014 #21

It does, okay thank you very much. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #23

Good luck! PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #48

To stop drinking I would sit in a room of knitters saying the rosary for an hour. rug Jan 2014 #25

No, it's a fucking cult and we eat your souls because we can't ever drink or drug again graywarrior Jan 2014 #26

Snark.. denbot Jan 2014 #27

I'm snarky when it comes to AA posts graywarrior Jan 2014 #29

Doing good. denbot Jan 2014 #30

You are officially crazy....lol graywarrior Jan 2014 #34

Is that you Ozzy...Alice?? ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #28

Yeah, definitely legit. MadrasT Jan 2014 #31

Okay thanks for the advice ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #33

Believing in a higher power forces one applegrove Jan 2014 #36

Yes -- the higher power doesn't have to be theistic. pnwmom Jan 2014 #38

The "higher power" of AA is an intercessional deity UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #61

Not every AA group views it that way. That's why there can be atheistic/agnostic groups. n/t pnwmom Feb 2014 #63

The fellowship is very different from the program UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #64

Not every group is a good fit for every person. My uncle, who used to run one, pnwmom Jan 2014 #39

Please read this before you commit to AA jmowreader Feb 2014 #42

I've known some AA people. They transferred their substance addition to meeting lindysalsagal Feb 2014 #43

+1 nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #45

I've noticed that after attending several meetings ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #46

I don't drink often OrwellwasRight Feb 2014 #47

You nailed it. mimi85 Feb 2014 #81

I am your disease. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #49

I liked what you wrote that was very helpful for me, thanks. I am a Christian like I said ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #50

Best wishes to you, Arnold. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #54

Thank you and I will. Tonight I am going to ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #57

a very kind and wise response, pablo. elleng Feb 2014 #65

Thank you elleng. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #87

Fantastic post. Welcome to DU, pablo_marmol. pnwmom Feb 2014 #56

So glad to hear, pnymom! pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #86

Went to a meeting yesterday and heard my story told word for word graywarrior Mar 2014 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Feb 2014 #52

Only sheer coincidence kept me from killing myself with dope/booze. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #53

I think it is a good idea to talk to people that have quit alcohol if you're trying to get alcohol JonLP24 Feb 2014 #55

Most people mature out of addictions UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #60

NO ONE 'matures' out of alcoholism; elleng Feb 2014 #66

Categorical statements UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #67

I'm referring only to alcoholism, elleng Feb 2014 #69

So that really isn't EVERY person UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #70

Not 'anecdotal.' elleng Feb 2014 #71

"No True Scotsman" fallacy UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #72

That hasn't been my experience! You may have known some people who raccoon Feb 2014 #79

The biggest thing you have going for you is the desire to quit Major Nikon Feb 2014 #62

Absolutely UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #68

alcoholism is genetic frwrfpos Feb 2014 #73

My bullshit detector just went off... Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #82

Good article up today TrogL Feb 2014 #74

It is legit..... AnneD Feb 2014 #75

I've been to 4 AA meetings and 2 NA(Narcotics Anonymous) so far in the past 2 weeks. I liked the NA ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #76

I was the chair for a 12 step program for over 2 years. In_The_Wind Feb 2014 #77

Okay I'll try that ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #78

It works for some, not for others TexasBushwhacker Feb 2014 #85

Howz it going, Arnold? pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #88

Bumped. Wonder how you're doing, Arnold. NT pablo_marmol Mar 2014 #89

I still haven't had a drink but I still get tempted alot. It's been almost 2 months now. ArnoldLayne Mar 2014 #90

Congratulations! DU is proud of you! n/t DebJ Mar 2014 #91

Excellent Arnold! pablo_marmol Mar 2014 #94

Good news Arnold! UncleYoder Mar 2014 #95

Congratulations Ahpook Mar 2014 #99

Good luck, Arnold! Ron Obvious Mar 2014 #100

There are AA meetings for non-religious that might feel less cultish. Walk away Mar 2014 #93

It is no cult. It doesn't worship any leaders. So there applegrove Mar 2014 #101