I am Right and You Are WrongI’m Right and You’re Wrong and I Have Proof! By Ned Wicker The argument wages on; for the next few moments we will examine two very different schools of thought concerning alcoholics and alcohol use. On one side are those who believe that abstinence from alcohol is mandatory in the management of the disease of alcoholism. On the other side are those who believe that total abstinence is not necessary and that the alcoholic can drink socially without having to overindulge, mainly because alcoholism isn’t a disease at all but a behavioral problem. The two sides are far apart, and often I have heard a far more militant viewpoint out of the drinking in moderation camp. “I’m an alcoholic, but I can drink” was said to me not long ago. It was delivered in such a way as to suggest that this person was going to take his drink just to show me he could, and not get into trouble. The argument was not so much slanted towards giving me any empirical proof that alcoholics could drink, but rather to convince me that Alcoholics Anonymous was wrong. The debate is all over the web. Just Google “can alcoholics drink” and you can read to your heart’s delight. Both sides make their case. Regardless of the treatment, and there are many options, if a person can get their life back on track, restore their health and live a fulfilled life, I am supportive. However, as I read arguments from the non `12-Step side of the fence, I see an underlying theme, a push back against what is described as a “pseudo-religious cult” using statistics or some other form of “objective” supporting information. It’s not so much that they offer their own viewpoint as much as it is they seem to enjoy attacking the other side. It leaves me to believe that they are trying to convince themselves of something they really don’t believe. Some claim that the Alcoholics Anonymous view of abstinence is wrong. They say alcoholism is not a progressive disease and that people can drink again. The argument is that alcoholism is a behavioral problem. I facilitate a spirituality group every week at the Lawrence Center treatment facility, so I couldn’t resist asking them if their goal was to be able to drink again without getting sick. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that their goal was to abstain, that they had a disease, and drinking again was not a goal. Another attack on AA is that the 12-Step process and the organization do not change and are closed to new ideas. The very nature of the 12-Step is all about personal change. To successfully navigate the 12 steps, one must be honest, open and willing to have change take place. AA has not changed its message of abstinence because the facts haven’t changed. The antagonists run from the “religious” part of AA, and some even go as far as saying AA is a cult. To be a member of AA requires no money, just the desire to stop drinking. Meetings are available, but certainly not mandatory and because of that people come and go. Cult members don’t just come and go, they are ordered by mind control, which also includes the guardianship of all their money. I don’t have to defend AA. Its record speaks for itself. As a Christian pastor/chaplain, I appreciate the 12-Step, because it opens up the spiritual dimension to addiction and helps the addict to seek help from that “power greater than ourselves.” Of course, if there is no god of some kind, there is no 12-Step. Actually, I think the AA idea of “God, as we understood Him,” is a rather liberal and progressive concept. It does not specify which god, leaving the door open for the individual to explore his or her own spirituality on his or her own terms. Nobody is forced into believing a certain set of doctrinal absolutes. For the Christian the concept of God lies in the Trinity-- God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. For the Jew it is God, as he is represented in the Old Testament. For the Muslim, it is Allah. The eastern religions have a different concept and can be polytheistic (many gods) or even atheistic (no god). Then there’s the whole idea of spirituality, which takes so many forms. Reading between the lines while surfing the web, I get the impression that the attack on AA is primarily limited to AA in the United States. It is an attack on religion in general, but specifically on Christianity. Because so many people have gone through the 12-Step tunnel and have come out the other end with a Christian worldview, it stands to reason that Christianity would get the attack. But religions of all kinds get their hits as well. The whole idea of putting your trust and faith in God, or a god, and not in your own will power is so appalling to those who will not believe, there is no other choice but to attack religion, or claim that AA is a pseudo-religious cult. The 12-Steps are time-tested, not just for alcoholism or drug addiction, but for the human condition. Working through the steps, a person must face his or her self, claim responsibility for their own behavior and be willing to make changes. The process is an excellent road map for any kind of life teaching, regardless of religion or lack of religion. The bottom line is for the alcoholic to get better, to have control, to be happy and fulfilled. Some approaches are medical, some psychotherapeutic, and others combine approaches. I prefer an interdisciplinary approach to addiction treatment, with the medical, psychological and spiritual needs being addressed. Claims that AA is rigid and inflexible is simply not accurate, as all three components are taken into consideration. I read a press release not long ago stating that a couple from Scotland wanted to challenge AA to a debate, claiming that AA was “wrong” and they had proof of that. You can’t limit that debate to just AA, mainly because over 250 self-help groups use the 12-Step program. The stage might be a wee bit crowded. Ned Wicker is the Addictions Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center.
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