Notes from People Who Don't Agree with Stanton
I am an Active member of a 12 step program, and I want to know with what authority you have to give the kind of advise you did on the "does aa cause suicide" 12 step program works like this and this only, it is for those whose illness goes with the piticular 12 step program, and the 12 step program works for those who want it and nothing less, some do recover if they catch on the importance that they need it, but the ones closes to the dying (physically, morally, or mentally)are the ones that grasp it the most. Those are the bottom drunks, addicts, gamblers, or what ever. today the recover of the 12 step groups has brought the bottom up to the needy, and that is where the success rate isn't as good as it used to be, You really have to be starving, and wanting it to really stick, and some cases time does get stronger for them..it isn't the AA that causes the suicide it is the people that doesn't go along with the steps or a higher power of some sort that is a requirment for recovery, if they just show up and drink the coffee, they don't get it by osmoses. I hear a lot of people blowing their brains out myself, it isn't AA it is them, that don't want to do it the AA way. They don't work the Steps and depend on a higher power, and that can be the Big Guy in the Sky or a Door knob they chose their own concept of a higher power, as long as it makes sense to them.. AA is a program and the program is 12 suggested steps no body forces any thing on any body. They are crazy alkies before they came in, and they stop drinking, what are they, they are sober crazys. The steps are designed to go through some surrendering, some self house cleaning and helping others and they start becoming sane. but again, it only works if they want to work it. Period, if they don't work it they didn't want it, they try to do it sober by themselfs, hence, they blow there brains out. aa didn't pull the triger they did. If you did read this thank you and if you didn't that is ok too, what I read I hope that not too many people read this stuff, it might have scared away people that really wanted help and would go through any length to get it, and the hopelessness the;y seen in that article. You might have killed people.
Bud L
"How do I erase my visit to your site? I do not want to be counted as supporting your views."
—Ted Judson
How can you perpetrate this lie. Hundreds of well meaning people will read this rhetoric and eventually die from the disease of addiction. Shame on you, why don't you and James Milam have an open debate via the net sometime. Better yet do it live. I doubt you'd have the spine to do it.
—Dan Brown
Herr Doctor,
I wonder how it feels to be so arrogant and profit oriented at the expense of truth as you? Would you please describe what it feels like to be so omniscient?
I have been sober through AA and by the grace of God for 13 months now after 15 years of addiction and countless attempts at psychoanalysis, medication, and agnostically/atheistically based attempts at self-empowerment.
This also included sessions of R.E.T. and cognitive types of therapy as well.
I tried at AA many times and failed because I just couldn't let go of the old pre-conceived ideas. It took tuning in to coincidental occurances to realize a spirtual awakening for myself whih has truly worked a miracle in my life.
How can you be so sure that I did not have this spiritual awakening? Men much more educated and brilliant than you have acknowledged their belief in God. I respect your right not to follow this belief, but to try to de-program someone from AA? And you talk about self-righteousness?
I think your very well written and persuasive concepts are but a test of faith for some of us. You are obviously operating from a darker side.
Your concepts (or any more of a dozen masquerading as some new way of looking at addiction) have failed me;AA's have not now that I am living them. I feel you are harming more people than you will help with your shameless profiteering. Funny, that before AA came along earlier in the century, alcoholism was invariably considered hopeless. Since that time and millions of subsequent recoveries, you guys want to swoop in with all the answers.
I am reminded of The Plastic Ono Band's Instant Karma for guys like you. Good luck and may God Bless you.
—john B
