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May, 4, 2006

HappyNews recently posted an Associated Press story titled Study Says Many Options for Alcoholics, which generated a couple of emails we would like to share with our readers:

It's wonderful to hear of someone winning at the war on alcoholism. This is a very debilitating disease. I think the biggest hurdle was crossed when the article stated that the participants wanted to quit. Staying in contact with people that have gone through this process or have studied about this disease is of the utmost importance. I understand some people's reluctance to go to AA as they think that they are not alcoholics, but this disease is so wicked in itself that we can justify our need to seek help in a myriad of ways. The article stated that it is cheaper to go to a doctor or nurse than to go to an alcohol treatment center. There is a cheaper way still than going to a doctor or nurse. It's called Alcoholics Anonymous. Any of the 12 step programs are good, but AA was the guiding light in 12 step programs. All other 12 step programs got the meat of their program from AA. Take it from a recovering Alcoholic/ drug user, that I would not be clean and sober without AA. I would like to state publicly that I am a recovering abuser of alcohol and drugs and without AA I could not have made it this far. Thank God and thank AA for a new me!

- Larry

What a bunch of crap!!!! After years of sobriety, "18" and years of counseling drug addicts and alcoholic's, I cannot believe that someone took time and money for such a study, especially the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It seems to me that Dr. Mark Willenbring would be aware of facts from studies that have been done over years and years of research done by many educated professionals. It is true, there are options for treatment for the alcoholic; however, talking to a doctor or nurse or taking placebo's for alcoholism are not the answers.

I have to agree with Dr. Stuart Gitlow, who obviously has experience in this field, "you are or you're not." You see, it does not matter how much or how often, but what you do when you do. It is not only about pulling the bottle out of their mouths. Have you had any opportunity to study the research about the chemistry and brain function with alcoholism?

There is such a thing as alcohol abusers. These people abuse alcohol but something happens and they realize they have caused so many problems in their lives that they decide to quit or cut down. Some of your so called options may be a good resource for them. NOT, and I repeat myself, NOT for the alcoholic. And just the inference that it is, in my opinion, can cause further induced pain and suffering for the alcoholic and the family. Not to mention other lives that are at risk that the alcoholic comes in contact with, (i.e., drunk driving, public intoxication.)

So I hope you, and anyone soliciting this garbage will retract this article and either shut up about something they no nothing about or print real FACTS! People are not banging my door down for my opinion like they seem to be Dr. Willenbring but I have a lifetime of experience and years of various educational resources in the disease of alcoholism.

- Trish

I'm glad that you printed a couple of emails from alcoholics in rebuttel of the article. I'm an alcoholic who has been free of the addiction for almost twenty years and still regularly attend AA meetings in order to pass on my experience to others who wish to overcome the addiction, for that's what it is. ... The longest that anyone was hospitalised in the early years of AA was about one week. After-care was AA meetings. They cost nothing. About two million alcoholics, some who have been "sober" for over forty or fifty YEARS can and will attest to the efficacy of the program. Thank you for printing this.

- RICARD