Heroin Addiction & Recovery Support Group

I agree and disagree. 1st of all, I don't pay too much attention to statistics since they're so easily manipulated and since there can be much more contributing external factors that aren't even taken into consideration. I agree with you that AA doesn't work. The program of working the steps EXACTLY as they are in the book does work, even for people who aren't addicts. If people don't have that extreme hopelessness and willingness that comes in step 1, then the rest of the steps are meaningless. A person has to believe that they're really insane (step 2) in order to be returned to sanity. Alcoholism and drug addiction is a disease that has recognizeable signs and symptoms. Even when a person is not using, these signs are still there. Usually just a little more subtle. But the obsessive thinking, the compulsion, and the restlessness, irritability, and general discontentment with life is still present. And I do agree that some meetings can make people sicker. I just came from a CA meeting tonight where every single person in there went in to war stories. The solution is in the present, not the past. When I hear that crap, and remember how I was as a newcomer, I hear people talking about shooting and smoking crack, I'm going to go go get some especially since I have no solution. So many of these people are just spreading their sickness around. But they know no better. They think that's what CA or NA is for. So yes, some meetings can make a person sicker. But the good meetings, where they're in the solution, make you feel inspired like you just got out of church. The meetings I got sober at, people would get cut off if they started getting into all that crap. And nobody was supposed to speak until they got on step 9. This is because we don't know shit about staying cleanwhen we come in. And we're gonna share and tell all these people how to stay sober when we got 1 month. That's insane. That's how original AA was. There was 2 meetings. One for people who had worked the steps (who were in the solution) and one for newcomers. Newcomers were not allowed to speak and were assigned a sponsor (they didn't pick them). The sponsor got them through the steps quickly and actually went with them to make every amends. The sponsor practically walked a person through the steps and was the first person a sponsee talked to after amends. The success rate during this time was 75%. Of course, most of these alcoholics were much lower bottom alcoholics than these court ordered people today, so there was less watering down. Most of these people were serious unlike many people today. So you must consider all the circumstances around all these so called statistics.

it works IF you work it

After 24 years of AA NA CA SAA etc. I have finally quit going to meetings. I even worked as a counselor for a year in a Rehab.
I don't think about using much since I don't talk about it all the time. I have a new spiritual way of living now. I am happier than I've been in many years.
There's no doubt I would be long dead if it were'nt for 12 step.
Don't you ever wonder where all the 10 year+ members have gone? I'm finding many of them have just found a new way. 12 step is probably the only way to stop using and stay clean for any significant period of time, yet I don't believe a person has to spend the rest of his/her life going to meetings.

aa/na does not tell you that you are powerless over your life just the substance after its put in your body. have you ever had power over dope once u have used it i havent