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.
I have heard claims that AA only has a 5% success rate. First, how does a program that functions on anynomity have records that can claim or refute success rates? Second, what is the measure of success? For example, how long has one been sober?
I am curious to this because I have success with the program. Prior to comitting myself to the AA program, I tried other treatments. They all failed or atleast I did. I almost have a year sober and I am still amazed that i have been able to do it. I suppose a 5% rate may seem low but the important part of this success rate is my own. I am sober and living better than i ever have. I have been able to deal with so much without even the thought of drinking.
There is no documentation or study that I have ever been involved in to measure my success. I have measure my own success by the ability to live a life sober. Can that be a reasonable yard stick to measure the success of a program?
If it is a 5% success rate, then count me in that 5%. It may not matter to you, but it does matter to me and my three kids.
I am curious to this because I have success with the program. Prior to comitting myself to the AA program, I tried other treatments. They all failed or atleast I did. I almost have a year sober and I am still amazed that i have been able to do it. I suppose a 5% rate may seem low but the important part of this success rate is my own. I am sober and living better than i ever have. I have been able to deal with so much without even the thought of drinking.
There is no documentation or study that I have ever been involved in to measure my success. I have measure my own success by the ability to live a life sober. Can that be a reasonable yard stick to measure the success of a program?
If it is a 5% success rate, then count me in that 5%. It may not matter to you, but it does matter to me and my three kids.
If you had fatal disease, and someone said go to a meeting everyday, for an hour..Team up with someone who has beaten the same disease and work with them..If it was a 5 or 100% chance of success ..Would you not go ? Surly we are just cahsing semantics here...
BTW..Not an AA member
I was a huge freaking success until I got drunk again.
It's not about statistics. How do you quantify a miracle?
Only the AA "Conference" can approve or issue any statements. I don't think you will find any such claim ever made by AA.
I have not seen any numbers which I think are valid. As you pointed out, the major problem is defining "sober" or "recovered." Not only does AA not keep track of who is a member or who is staying sober, most Treatment Programs cannot release any data about their clients because of federal privacy laws. Even if you could get names etc, any numbers developed would have to depend on self-reporting, and we all know about the honesty of alcoholics and addcts.
We have a lot of people in AA who do not have the same disease as me - they do not have the disease of alcoholism. They come to AA because they are made to feel welcome, they can sit in meetings and piss an moan about their lives and almost no one will stop them, they use the meetings as therapy, which they are not.
My experience is that those who work the steps and continue to live by the spiritual principles get and stay sober - therefore unscientific as it may be, the 12 step programme is 100% successful!
http://www.barefootsworld.net/askbillw.html#33
"And when we are wrong, promptly admit it." lol