Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
When I decided to go for treatment for my alcohol abuse I wanted to find the best method possible; especially if I was going to pay money for it. I researched programs online and noticed statistics seemed largely inflated for some centers. We all know statistics can easily be manipulated based on the criteria used to calculate them, and most centers or programs set up these statistical parameters on their own. (very misleading and unethical).
How could anyone study and give statistics for the success rate of any recovery method? I dont think It could accurately be done and here is why.
What would be the measure of success? Would it be a certain amount of years of sobriety without a relapse? What would be a fair measure of time, from the time you enter till you die seems the only absolute measure of time. Decreased or removed cravings for alcohol?
What would be the measure of failure of a program? Relapse? Continued cravings?
Who would be the neutral party to determine these measures of success? It could obviously not be advocates of a particular treatment method. (Would you trust statistics from a drug manufacturer).
I notice these unfair parameters quoted by some people over and over again and their arguments hold as much water as a sieve.
If we looked at it this way no one can give fair argument as to their preferred method of staying sober as the most effective method.
While this does not matter for those who are currently sober and successful at it (who cares what works for someone else, what Im doing works for me). Who it does matter to is the person still unsure about finding a solution and looking for advice.
To these people; dont be fooled by something that seems too good to be true, because it usually is. Do your research and follow your gut. There are not tried and true methods that work any better than the next. The true measure is the willingness to quit for good.
How could anyone study and give statistics for the success rate of any recovery method? I dont think It could accurately be done and here is why.
What would be the measure of success? Would it be a certain amount of years of sobriety without a relapse? What would be a fair measure of time, from the time you enter till you die seems the only absolute measure of time. Decreased or removed cravings for alcohol?
What would be the measure of failure of a program? Relapse? Continued cravings?
Who would be the neutral party to determine these measures of success? It could obviously not be advocates of a particular treatment method. (Would you trust statistics from a drug manufacturer).
I notice these unfair parameters quoted by some people over and over again and their arguments hold as much water as a sieve.
If we looked at it this way no one can give fair argument as to their preferred method of staying sober as the most effective method.
While this does not matter for those who are currently sober and successful at it (who cares what works for someone else, what Im doing works for me). Who it does matter to is the person still unsure about finding a solution and looking for advice.
To these people; dont be fooled by something that seems too good to be true, because it usually is. Do your research and follow your gut. There are not tried and true methods that work any better than the next. The true measure is the willingness to quit for good.
good luck hun.
This treatment program was funded by the county and free for most people. They always were full up and had a waiting list. So they didn't need to attract more people by inflating the success rate.
There were about fifty people at any one time, and the counselors told us that about 2% would stay sober. I asked the same questions you asked, and didn't get an answer from them. I also asked how they arrived at those statistics and only one counselor attempted to answer me. He said they called hospitals around the county to see if anyone had died or been admitted for overdosing...
It was a great treatment center and it helped me bunches, but like any statistics on successful sobriety, including those recently who have said AA's success rates are around two percent, the whole topic is bull doodey!
During those years, many of the girls got into drugs and had addiction problems.
That proves it: Going to Catholic churches causes girls to get addicted to drugs.
How in the heck can you measure this anyway unless you die sober.. I choose to live sober and serene today.
Having had a few 'sober' rounds myself recently I think I am starting to understand the whole process and why some people finally, totally get sober, with or without AA. You actually DO learn coping mechanisms, and a belief you can do it. I haven't achieved 'long term sobriety' yet (but I just turned 39 so there you go) but I have achieved periods of sobriety where previously there were none. And I am realising what I need to do, and how I can possibly do it.
i have been to one and i learned a lot of stuff. most of what i learned that really really affected me was what i learned from talking to the folks that were in the trenches with me. thats what really struck a chord with me, and i have found that in meetings as well.
treatment centers are an excellent place to get centered, a way from triggers for a while, and to learn the tools needed to achieve steady sobriety.
personally i'm very hardheaded and i guess it just didn't 'click' with me as fast as others. i keep thinking back to Bill and Dr. Bobs time. all they had was a couple of chairs and a pot of coffee.