To Dave T., Re: RR/AA

[Guest guest]

[regarding a decision to permanently abstain]

>

> Related circumstances leading up to the deciding may occur for quite a

> while, but the deciding itself, that moment of decision, the event of

> recovery, is actually much easier than the animal side of our nature would

> have us believe. It does take self-knowledge and determination, but most

> preparation and especially support are bugaboos that taint the obvious

> simplicity of deciding to never do something very specific and unrelated to

> survival. If one concludes there is only one real reason to drink/drug,

> then there is only one " thing that can interfere " . I would use the term

> " recalled " rather than " reaffirmed " . A person will obviously consciously

> recall the decision when the opportunity or thought of drinking comes along,

> although reaffirm works too.

>

> I don't think it can be proven that a decision to never do something can be

> anything BUT a singular event. I would even add quick and easy, compared to

> the alternatives.

>

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I agree with a lot of the RR ideology, Dave -- particularly the recognition

that the purpose of drinking is the pleasure it brings (at least initially).

I've never been a very big fan of the " self-medication " ideology, as I think it

can create excuses to keep abusing alcohol. I also support the RR idea that if

one makes a commitment to complete, unconditional abstinence, it is

unconscionable for anyone else to insist that " support groups " or " treatment "

are a necessity (although it would not be out of line in certain cases for

persons in authority to do random testing for a period of time to verify the

sobriety). It is insulting and infantilizing to suggest that no adult is

capable of keeping a commitment, and must have " help " (preferably from authority

figures paid by the government), in any situation regarding alcohol misuse.

My question is, why is RR so hostile to the idea of problem drinkers making

a commitment to moderate (responsible) drinking? Why can't Trimpey allow for

the idea that a mature adult who has been busted for a DUI or a Breathalyzer at

work can make a commitment to never drink at inappropriate times (or in

inappropriate amounts) again, without swearing off all alcohol forever? Why

can't an unconditional commitment to NEVER drink before work, before driving,

whatever, be a " one-time event " ? Indeed, AVRT ideas can be used to selectively

abstain (and I have used it in this way), e.g. " I'm planning to drive to

Somewhereville later... drinking would not be safe now... and though a drink now

would be very pleasurable, I don't have to give in to the desire " , etc. Total

abstinence is certainly a viable and admirable option, but altering drinking

behavior to where it doesn't endanger yourself or anyone else is another

solution to problem drinking -- after all, drinking without problems is not

" problem drinking " !

I can understand that for political reasons, Trimpey does not want RR to be

associated with any moderation programs. But his scathing article about Audrey

Kishline was gratuitously nasty. Had Kishline made, in Trimpey's words, " an

unconditional lifetime commitment " to never get behind the wheel after drinking,

and made good on her commitment by routinely giving car keys to her husband or

a trusted friend or other " designated driver " prior to imbibing, the worst

effect of her fateful night would have been a wicked hangover, rather than two

deaths. As Stanton Peele has pointed out, a major shortcoming of AA and other

abstinence-only programs is that there is no contingency planning -- only a

" f**k 'em if they drink " attitude. This is not only unhelpful, but can prove

fatal.

In its haughty insistence that any previous problem drinker who makes a

commitment to anything other than complete lifetime abstinence is full of shit

(or full of Beast, whatever -- same as " in denial " !) and doomed to failure, RR

is not much different from the 12-step/ " disease " treatment modalities it

ridicules.

~Rita