A critical factor in substance addiction is the ability to take responsibility for your actions. When you don't admit you are wrong for your behaviors and actions, you fail to begin the process necessary to break the cycle of addiction. In addition, without self-responsibility, you fail to release yourself from your past and move towards the future.
Many in the medical or recovery fields tout the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or the Minnesota Model. The Minnesota Model is also known as the abstinence model created in the 1950s. But how effective are models like AA?
Sobriety by the Numbers
Researchers find it difficult to obtain a definitive rate of success for those in AA. The point of the “anonymous” in the program's name is for those who attend meetings to remain unknown. Because of this, the high success rate AA puts out is suspect.
Throughout the years, researchers have talked with those in AA or those who dropped out of AA to find out the success rate. Scientific American found approximately 40 percent of those who attend AA meetings in their first-year drop out. A retired psychiatry professor from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Lance Dodes, examined AA's success and retention rates. He compared AA's rates with other studies on sobriety and current involvement rates and discovered AA's success rate is approximately 5 and 8 percent. Roughly 95 percent of those who entered the program in their first year of sobriety left the program.
Before anyone who is a devout believer of AA scoffs at this and other studies, let's look at the core belief of AA: powerlessness.
Admitting You Are Powerless
When you enter a 12-Step program like AA, the program asks you to hand over your self-responsibility and admit you're powerless. Handing your power to a program, a meeting, a sponsor, or God removes you from blame. Think about it. You don't own your behaviors. You don't need to face what you did when you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol—relegating self-responsibility as a non-priority blocks you from using free will. When you don't admit to your mistakes, you remove yourself from decisions to change your life.
Free Will
You exercise your free will every day. For example, when you speed, text, or talk while driving, you make a choice. Now, think about the basis of a 12-Step program. The expectation is you will never drink or use drugs again. However, ask yourself, is never doing anything even possible? You will speed, text, or talk at least once throughout your lifetime. It's a part of life. Now, why would a 12-Step program that has hard and fast rules be any different? When you look at your life, everything you did was about exercising your free will.
Your decisions are made either by rash reactions or thoughtful processes. Decisions are internal, as is your personal growth. To grow and transform, you must release your reliance on outside influences. Holding on to outside influences keeps you chained to expectations, self-perception, and your current environment. It will help if you embrace your power to change instead of believing you are powerless. Saying you are powerless can make you powerless, but when you embrace free will or choice, you reclaim yourself from lies and harmful behaviors.
Rethink Your Sobriety
Programs that box you into one type of success or failure fail to recognize people are different. Everyone is unique, so a one size fits all approach to sobriety limits your ability to do what is best for your sobriety. There are many concerns that people have with 12-Step programs, including the following:
Their faith-based nature can make some people uncomfortable, especially if the group they attend places emphasis on God.
Many programs say your substance addiction is a continuing disease, and one sip or use will lead to a bender.
The AA's Big Book says, “there are those who are incapable of being honest with themselves…they were born that way.” You aren't profoundly flawed or beyond help if you slip up.
Groups like AA also insist their program is the only way to keep your sobriety.
Options to Maintain Sobriety
When AA formed in the 1930s, people knew little about how substances affected the brain. Over the years, medical professionals and society have cemented AA's place as the most effective way to become or maintain sobriety. However, The Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches places AA 38th out of 48 ways to stay sober. The book found these treatments are more effective:
Interventions by a medical professional
Medication prescribed by a doctor targets the physical and mental needs of a substance abuser
Mental health therapy helps address any underlying disorders like depression or anxiety
Substance addiction isn't strictly one thing or not. However, the idea you are in control or not is as confining as being told a 12-Step program is the only way to maintain your sobriety.
Seeking treatment for substance use doesn't mean you are powerless. When a person gives power to a belief or entity, they give away their power over their free will. Choices made and decisions acted on are what constitutes using free will. For example, the choice to stop using substances and not feel or act in specific ways again means exerting free will. When a person takes responsibility for their actions or behaviors by telling themselves what they don't want anymore and how to change, they take control of their power. Addiction treatment teaches a person to have choices, and they can decide what healthy skills work and how self-responsibility will guide them after treatment. Monte Cristo Recovery, located in Orange County, California, supports their client's use of free will. We support therapeutic substance addiction models and use harm-reducing methods to help our clients go through detoxification. We welcome and are here to answer any questions. Call (714) 824-9896.