Remember this study is not saying alcoholics can't get better. It's saying the treatments psychologists used didn't make much difference. And it's just this study...

Your analysis id flawed, your comments are flawed and you are trying to mislead people.

I know its a cliche, but you may be in denial of something and trying to avoid facing up to reality.

Recently I spoke to a psychologist who was trying to teach 'controlled drinking' to confirmed alcoholics. You are also trying to decieve alcoholics for what ever alternative aganda.

Project MATCH showed that Twelve Step Facilitation had equal to and sometimes better improvement rates that CBT - around 40%.

Twelve Step Facilitation had even better recovery rates if abstinence was the main goal.

Interestingly spirituality, as taught by therapists, had no impact on abstinence rates. However, when alcoholics attended AA the abstinence rates due to spirituality shot up.

I was so glad to see your site today - when I tried to read it yesterday, a screen came up with an error message and I got a bit worried!

Cat

Just to make clear that this particular study was evaluating a version of the 12 steps in isolation, rather than the work of Alcoholics Anonymous.

My guess would be that it is the support and understanding of other people in a similar situation to yourself, as well as the other aspects of AA, that is more useful than the actual 12 steps in isolation. Just a guess - I'd be happy for anyone's view...

In any case, I'm really happy to hear the AA's programme was effective for you and thank you, as ever, for sharing your experience.

Jeremy

Maybe it might not be perfect, but the 12 step programme has certainly changed the lives of a lot of alcoholics. I joined AA 8 months ago and have not had a drink since. Prior to that, I was drinking in excess of 100 units per week and experienced mild physical withdrawal if I didn't have alcohol every day.

Librium helped a small amount when I was given it on a psych ward to stop the DTs, but the only thing that has helped me to abstain completely is AA.

The spiritual improvements were almost immediate and noticeable to people around me who didn't know I had stopped drinking - I was calmer and more reliable.

I have had psychological cravings for a drink, but this only happens when I have not been to an AA meeting for a few days. I have no idea how it works, but the AA meetings, contact with other members and at least some work on the 12 steps (I reached step 4 in May, but have let this drop a bit since then) have made it possible for me to live an alcohol-free 8 months, one day at a time.

Cat