A Quick Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment That Works For You!

"AA isn't for everyone. And, AA is not just for those who need it.
AA is for those who want it."

A Quick Guide to Finding Alcohol and/or Drug Addiction Treatment
That Works For You!

I was working the A.A. Hotline number, and I received a call, that started with a question to me: "How do I quit? This is killing me!" (I'm sure he meant "how do I quit drinking? ... the alcohol is killing me." )

The only thing I could tell him was what I did. I came to Alcoholics Anonymous, and asked for help.

After listening to him rant and rave about how bad AA is, and all the bad things he believes there is about AA... and about how badly he felt he was treated, when he came to AA in the past... I couldn't help but ask myself, "Then, why are you calling an AA telephone number?" ... but, naturally... I didn't ask him that question.

I'm sure that AA has no monopoly on sobriety or recovery... our book Alcoholics Anonymous tells us that. And, of course... we're all just a bunch of recovering alcoholics, ourselves... so, naturally, one visit to an AA meeting, and I'm sure that not everyone will appear very Saintly, or to have had all their character defects and personality problems perfectly removed... none of us are professionals... and we don't charge any dues or fees. We're just a bunch of alcoholics, trying to help other alcoholics like ourselves!

I told the caller, that if AA is not what he thinks will help him achieve what he wants to achieve, he could always try church or religion or some medical, professional or scientific approach to solving his problem.

I've heard that church, religion, treatment, hypnosis, psychotherapy, and cognitive therapy (among other modalities) has worked successfully for some alcoholics and drug addicts. He is perfectly able to search out and try something else that will work for him. I explained to him that I have no experience with anything other than Alcoholics Anonymous, to share with him, because AA is what has worked for me.

I suggested that he could try other A.A. meetings, try some meetings with different people, or to get a copy of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous and read it and follow the instructions in the book. I've heard of many people who just read the book, followed the instructions in the book and it worked great for them.

Then, he asked "Well, how does it work?" (Of course, we have a whole book on that!) And, my reply was... "well, what worked for me was the 12 Steps."

He said... "Oh yeah... and then you get a Higher Power or something" ... and then he mumbled off something and hung up on me.

Hopefully, the caller will find what he is looking for. AA isn't for everyone. And, AA is not just for those who need it. AA is for those who want it.

All I can really say... is, that AA has worked great for me. And, I've talked with other people who have said that they tried Alcoholics Anonymous and they found something that they believed was better for them.

Sure, I've been to AA meetings that I didn't like and I didn't feel comfortable with the meetings... and I tried different meetings, until I found AA meetings that I felt comfortable with. Heck, I've even had Higher Powers before... and Gods... that didn't seem to work for me. But, I didn't give up. Alcohol had beat me to the point that I was willing to accept whatever help I could get, from anywhere I could get it, and AA was the place that I found that help!

Probably the biggest thing that happened for me... was that something started happening to me... and I began to change. Perhaps as I began to change... the meetings, and the people, and perhaps even a Higher Power, God, as I understand Him, appeared to have changed!

If you are reading this... and you identify with the caller... and you believe AA is not for you, and it sucks, and it’s all bad, etceteras.... You can always do something else:

1). You can keep looking for something different that works for you. And, I do sincerely hope that you find it. (Regardless of what approach you try). It is sad to watch any alcoholic, and their family suffer alcoholic torture.... and I believe that anything that will help anyone to get relief from alcoholic torture should be available to them.

2). You can always change your mind about AA, and give it another try.

3). You can seek professional, medical, or scientific approaches to treating your alcoholism and/or drug addiction.

4). You can continue drinking and/or using drugs until it does kill you.

No one can, or will, force you to do anything that you don’t choose to do!

I have included the below information, hopefully to help anyone who is suffering from alcoholism, that would like to try an approach that is not A.A., non-12 Step, or a non-spiritual basis. It's not for me to have an opinion on whatever you decide to try. But, by all means! If you need help... please try something!

If you or someone you care for is dependent on alcohol or drugs and believe that you need professional treatment, it is important to know that no single treatment approach is appropriate for all individuals. Finding the right treatment program involves careful consideration of such things as the setting, length of care, philosophical approach and your or your loved one's needs.

Here are 12 questions that you may want to consider when selecting a treatment program:

1. Does the program accept your insurance? If not, will they work with you on a payment plan or find other means of support for you?

2. Is the program run by state-accredited, licensed and/or trained professionals?

3. Is the facility clean, organized and well-run?

4. Does the program encompass the full range of needs of the individual (medical: including infectious diseases; psychological: including co-occurring mental illness; social; vocational; legal; etc.)?

5. Does the treatment program also address sexual orientation and physical disabilities as well as provide age, gender and culturally appropriate treatment services?

6. Is long-term aftercare support and/or guidance encouraged, provided and maintained?

7. Is there ongoing assessment of an individual's treatment plan to ensure it meets changing needs?

8. Does the program employ strategies to engage and keep individuals in longer-term treatment, increasing the likelihood of success?

9. Does the program offer counseling (individual or group) and other behavioral therapies to enhance the individual's ability to function in the family/community?

10. Does the program offer medication as part of the treatment regimen, if appropriate?

11. Is there ongoing monitoring of possible relapse to help guide patients back to abstinence?

12. Are services or referrals offered to family members to ensure they understand addiction and the recovery process to help them support the recovering individual?

I hope those suggestions help.

I wish you the best in regards to your recovery!

Dallas B.

You may also be interested in reading Definitions of Rehab, Recovery and Treatment Program Terms.

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A Quick Guide to Finding Alcohol and/or Drug Addiction Treatment
That Works For You

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