AA MINORITY REPORT 2017 (revised)

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Tuesday 31 January 2012

AA: Is it only way alcoholics can go?


"Group's spiritual element troubles atheists, agnostics.

By Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje, mstoeltje@express-news.net
Michael is a recovering alcoholic. Though he attends Alcoholics Anonymous, Michael struggles with the program's spiritual element. He would prefer to join a support group without the religious overtones but one does not seem to exist in San Antonio.
As is tradition on this day, people are busy forming resolutions to make 2012 better than the year now receding in the rearview mirror.

For people with alcohol and drug problems, this might entail joining a group like Alcoholics Anonymous. According to AA doctrine and its 12-step program, redemption from the disease comes not from willpower but from reliance on a “higher power” — as Step Three puts it, “God as we understood him.”

This is where things get dicey for some alcoholics and addicts who are atheist or agnostic, especially if they've been mandated to attend 12-step groups by the courts. Why should they be forced to sit through meetings that violate their own secular beliefs?

In recent decades, mutual-help groups such as Smart Recovery, LifeRing and Secular Organization for Sobriety have formed across the nation to offer support without spiritual concepts, but they've yet to make their way to San Antonio.

Members of AA say their program isn't religious — it's spiritual. A member's higher power can be anything they choose — God, Jesus, Buddha, the power of love, even AA membership itself, which exceeds more than 1 million people in the U.S. alone.

At free meetings throughout San Antonio each week, there are generally no sectarian references, which are considered taboo since it violates AA's big-tent approach. Still, most meetings end with a group recitation of the Lord's Prayer, the provenance of which is Christian.

This practice alienates some nonreligious members and potential members, as does the whole higher-power concept and what can sometimes be a preponderance of generic “God talk” at meetings.

It's a bit of a problem,” said Michael, 53, who is gay and an atheist. (In keeping with AA's tradition of anonymity, only first names are being used.) He attended his first AA meeting here in 1999, one aimed at gay and lesbian alcoholics. His drinking had become daily, which worried him.

But people were talking about going to jail, having blackouts,” he said. “I thought, ‘I don't have these kinds of problems.'”

Still concerned about his drinking six years later, he returned to the meeting. When it ended with the Lord's Prayer, Michael vowed to never go back.

But then some mornings, he found he needed a drink to soften a hangover. Eventually, Michael returned to his old group but still felt out of place.

Recently, he found an AA group he likes, which he uses as his higher power. So far, though, he's only been able to go four months before relapsing. He admits he hasn't followed AA protocol, such as getting a sponsor, someone who guides a newcomer through the steps.

If there were secular options, I think I absolutely would stick with it, and I believe a large number of people would as well,” he said. “But somebody has to start it.”

A different approach

In the 1980s, secular alternatives did begin to form. Smart Recovery, the most well-known with 2,000 members, is based largely on cognitive-behavioral therapy, a counseling approach that seeks to change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. In the free SR support groups, which take place in person and online, members are taught ways to cope with cravings, stay motivated and live a balanced life.
Unlike at AA, they're told they can conquer alcohol or other addictions without help from above.

Some people aren't comfortable with the idea of powerlessness,” said executive director Shari Allwood.

Addiction can be overcome,” she said. “We don't expect you to attend meetings for the rest of your life. You can put these tools to use in your life and move on.”

Some SR members don't believe alcoholism is a disease — the prevailing medical view, given the role genetics plays in some, but not all, cases of alcoholism and for the physical changes in the brain that happen during addiction that never fully go away and make it hard to quit and stay sober. Personal choice plays a role as well.

Groups like Smart Recovery are minuscule compared with the mammoth AA. “It's a Catch-22,” said Dr. John F. Kelly, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “Because the alternatives to AA are so small, clinicians are reluctant to refer patients there. And most of the evidence so far (regarding effectiveness) has been about AA.”

Contrary to AA's critics, a growing body of research shows that for many people with alcohol use disorders, AA is effective. One study found that of patients who regularly attended AA after alcoholism treatment, about half remained abstinent after one year. Many who weren't at least cut their consumption.

For those who want to change their drinking behavior, AA can be an important resource, as can other mutual-help organizations,” said Dr. Robert Huebner, acting director of the National Institute onAlcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Treatment and Recovery Research.

At this point, there are few studies showing the efficacy of AA alternatives. Existing ones are of poor quality, mainly due to small sample sizes, Huebner said. But new studies are under way, including an NIAAA-funded one of Smart Recovery.

How it works'

Dedicated 12-step members don't need studies to convince them the philosophy works: Their redeemed lives are proof enough.

Still, AA may not be suitable for everyone, some experts believe.

The single best predictor of whether or not someone will go to AA is the severity of their drinking problem,” said J. Scott Tonigan, a researcher at the University of New Mexico. “The more you've lost control of your life, the more the 12-step message resonates.”

But in the last 20 years, researchers have found that alcoholism — once considered an “all or nothing” disease that invariably worsens over time — actually lies along a continuum.

People with alcohol use disorders have mild, moderate and severe forms of the disorder, with the majority of people experiencing problems in the mild-to-moderate range,” Huebner said. “This finding has major implications for our treatment system, because the focus traditionally has been on people with disorders at the most severe end of the continuum.”

So it's not a question of AA or Smart Recovery being better or worse, said Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine. It's a question of fit.

People in Smart Recovery tend to have more education, better jobs, less severe (drinking) problems,” he said. “The narrative of self-control resonates with them: They haven't been lying in the street. They go to an AA meeting and think, ‘That's way worse than anything that's happened to me!' This is true for a lot of people, particularly high-bottom drunks. They may be happier in Smart Recovery.”

A “bottom” refers to an incident, usually dramatic, that prompts an alcoholic to accept he or she must stop drinking.

But how does AA, which has its roots in religion, psychology and medicine, “work?”

Many recovering alcoholics say their higher power played the main role. Cathy, 61, a retired business executive, said she was a “hopeless” alcoholic who tried willpower, traditional psychotherapy and self-help books for years to no avail.

I couldn't live without alcohol, period,” she said. “I didn't lose my house or my husband, I didn't have DUIs. But there was a complete emptiness inside, a spiritual malady. I had lost my soul. And only my relationship with my higher power, whom I choose to call God, was able to fill that hole.”

Scientists theorize that AA works mainly by using a layman's version of cognitive-behavioral therapy, complemented by social connection. They note the many parallels between AA's approach and the psychological one.

(Members) say prayer and meditation help them; scientists call that a cognitive exercise in coping mechanisms,” Tonigan said. “You say the Serenity Prayer when you're angry; in cognitive-behavioral therapy we call that rehearsal training. Changing ‘playmates and playpens' in AA is called avoiding triggers in CBT.”

One large study found it is the social component of AA — going to meetings, having a sponsor — that is most beneficial to most alcoholics, more so than the spiritual practices, said Harvard's Kelly.

Prayer and meditation only seemed to be an explanatory effect among the most severe members, although they also benefited from the social network,” he said.

The law has gotten involved in the debate. Federal courts across the country have ruled that judges can't mandate DUI or drug offenders to attend AA or related 12-step programs as part of probation if they object on religious grounds — a suitable secular alternative must be provided. It's a church-state thing.

Lisa Graybill, director of the ACLU of Texas, said her office regularly gets complaints from nonbelievers ticked off because they've been ordered to 12-step programs, but so far none have resulted in litigation.

In his 23 years at the Bexar County probation office, assistant chief Abel Salinas said he hasn't heard of a single probationer objecting to a 12-step mandate on religious grounds. When asked to provide a list of local secular alternatives, he offered fee-based drug-education classes at driving schools.

But 12-step waivers are rarely granted, said Salinas, and only to defendants who can prove beyond doubt they cannot attend meetings for legitimate reasons, such as work schedules. A defendant must ask for alternatives to 12-step; it's not offered by the courts.

Everyone would try to get out of going,” he said.

The Center for Health Care Services offers nonspiritually-based support groups, but hey're open only to clients enrolled in its addiction-treatment programs.

One local criminal defense attorney who wished to remain nameless because he regularly appears before judges here, said those who object to AA on religious grounds are aware of the risk in voicing such concerns.

The problem is judges hold so much power,” he said. “Are you going to tell the person who holds your fate in his hands that you don't want to go to AA? (Judges) can make your life really hard, and the goal of most people is to stay out of ... jail, no matter the cost.”

Interestingly, studies show atheists — if they commit to AA — tend to fare as well sobriety-wise as believers.

That's the tack Suzanne, 75, took four years ago, when she joined an AA group in Austin geared to atheists and agnostics. She said she keeps her focus on working the steps and practising the AA principles — humility, rigorous honesty, service to others — and lets the spiritual stuff work itself out.

I realized that maybe my definition of spiritual was too narrow,” she said. “One meaning of spirituality is the immaterial. I mean, you can't see love.””

Comment: Just a reminder that we haven't cornered the market in alcoholism treatment! AA is not necessarily the most appropriate course for all who suffer from this condition

Moreover - How It DOESN'T Work:
  • endorsement of (and participation in) any court mandated (chit system) attendance at AA meetings (a breach of our own traditions);
  • overt sectarian religiosity exhibited by AA groups (but not by individual members) (yet another breach of our traditions);
  • our failure to clarify the distinction between 'spiritual' and 'religious', and communicate this adequately to the general public. This is easily remedied viz:

    Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop an individual's inner life; spiritual experience includes that of connectedness with a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. It can encompass belief in immaterial realities or experiences of the immanent or transcendent nature of the world.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality]

    Cheerio

    The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Sunday 29 January 2012

A Minority report (continued)(3)


A.A. is dealing with a new phenomenon, for which most are unprepared. It presents an extremely complex debate and it is a toxic cocktail of the following ingredients: Global internet communication; the outside influence of a very narrow minded, dishonest, fundamentalist Christian rendering of A.A.’s program and history; a generation of “elder statesmen” who have no experience of dealing with a serious problem in A.A; who also lack knowledge of A.A. history and the ability to apply Traditions and Concepts; and the majority of whom appear to see no threat in placing liberty above that of our common welfare.

This cocktail has produced not so much cult groups, but a collection of cult groups of various descriptions, which together amount to a neo-Oxford Group fundamentalist movement. These groups have international connections with figureheads as leaders: Joys of Recovery, (Detroit USA – London UK, David C.), Primary Purpose group of AA (Dallas), (global affiliation, Cliff B. Myers R., Chris R.), Back to Basics, (Global affiliation, Wally P.), Road to Recovery, Plymouth UK- Pacific Group USA (Wayne P- Clancy I).

The new dynamics to AA presented by outside published literature and global internet communication may have exposed a weakness in our service structure to which AA has yet to adapt. The speed and reach of electronic communication today means that the behaviour of one individual AA group, or a minority, can now have an enormous negative and permanent impact on the whole A.A. public relations. Moreover, this speed and reach of communication can give power driving figureheads a platform to influence AA, not only in their own locality, but internationally. With the reach and permanence of worldwide web, it is questionable whether the resultant damage to A.A. public relations and loss of public confidence caused by these groups is sustainable for the fellowship as a whole, if this is permitted to continue.

For example, The Joys of Recovery group (Detroit – London, David C.):
Extracts from the “Big Book Recovery” website hosted by a David C:

Counsellors, Psychiatrists http://bigbookrecovery.com/now_that.html#solid_alcohol
The general approach for the majority of cases is for us to discontinue seeing psychiatrists and counselors [sic] if you are seeing them for treatment of the symptoms of alcoholism eg [sic] alcoholic depression… … Also there are likely to be contradictions between the two courses of treatment. We chose between the two. If we chose to do the AA programme, we stopped seeing the counsellor/psychiatrist until we had done the first nine steps.......”

Alcohol In Solid Form http://bigbookrecovery.com/now_that.html#solid_alcohol
........Prescribed mood-altering drugs? Drugs that are mood altering (eg [sic] "antidepressants") are often prescribed for the symptoms of the alcoholism. This is true even when alcoholism is not named by the doctor as the condition for which he or she is prescribing the drugs; for example, many of us are diagnosed as having a variety different sorts of psychoses and types of depression, which turn out to be the symptoms of alcoholism … ... If they are prescribed for the symptoms of alcoholism, then they are to be considered as alcohol in solid form: we must be willing to come off these ‘chemical mood-changers’ … …We ask the doctor: ‘Would it be alright if I came off the drugs if I go to lots of AA meetings?’… … ... It is very important that if the programme is to be a substitute for these drugs then we really must follow all the suggestions of the programme.”

Sexual conduct http://bigbookrecovery.com/step_four.html#how_to
........Later on, as part of Step 5, we give an account of our secret thoughts to our sponsors. Many revealed things to our sponsors that we had never told anyone before. (This is applicable also to all our darkest thoughts, not just those of a sexual nature”)

Trust Our Sponsors http://bigbookrecovery.com/now_that.html#solid_alcohol
So it will be very difficult for us to trust in the programme and the Higher Power unless we can trust our sponsors first...”

But I’m doing the Programme and I’m still feeling down
http://bigbookrecovery.com/step_twelve.html#all_affairs
If you think you’re doing the programme and not feeling good, then we have good news for you. There is every chance that you’re wrong — you’re not doing the programme. The answer is to find out what it is you are doing that you shouldn’t; or what it is you are not doing that you should.”

Victims of the abusive sponsorship in London and Detroit share their experience with each other on an internet forum:

I was reflecting on when I first was recruited in to joys and I was thinking about how uncomfortable I felt. ………….I remember crying to my sponsor about the pain I was having and explain to her that I never felt my body freak out so much not even when I was in to partying and taking drugs as I did when I came in to joys and she was just starting to yell at me. I remember the first time she really screamed at me when I called to check in I was in my standing in my kitchen and I just recently dumped my ex boyfriend and he just moved out I felt I was moving forward in my life on to a healthy and higher road and then my sponsor screamed at me and I just felt like this behavior [sic] feels way more unhealthy then the what the boyfriend I just dumped did. I felt like she was just waiting for him to leave so I would be alone and she could yell at me and start the abusive and control cycle. I studied the cycle of abuse wheel in high-school and I think that describes perfectly my relationship with my joys sponsor there were definably honeymoon periods and tension building periods and then the terrible acting out phase. I remember I always felt extremely uncomfortable art [sic] the 4 joys meetings I attended weekly. Being on the outside now I can see that a lot of the things that I struggled with such as panic attacks were due to being in joys I don’t have those anymore. I have also realized why I was attracted so much to joys and that it did meet many of my unmet needs such as belonging friendship caring involvement and many many [sic] more. Now that I am out of the group I have to work harder to try and meet these needs and when I don’t I find myself missing joys.” (aacultwatch forum; subject entitled “Gut feelings”)

Another gradual change in their cult environment involved the persistent push for a greater commitment. It always had to be more, and soon the members felt overwhelmed and wondered if they could ever make it. Could they ever be pure enough? Could they ever reach enlightenment? Their leaders were the only proof that these standards were achievable. For me in joys was will I ever get done with 9 and when I get done with step 9 I will be happy. I have sence [sic] learned that being done with nine is really about accepting the cult belife [sic] system and passing it on. I felt even more inner torment when I was done 9 then I did befor.[sic] They created this false impression that once I got done step 9 life would be grand which was quite the oppiset,[sic] but it did apper [sic] that way on the outside. Cult leaders used various techniques to tighten their hold on the group. One of the more effective was scapegoating [sic]. One member would be publicly humiliated in front of the group. This created dread among the cultists because they never knew when it would be their turn and never wanted to be used as a negative example I have been the scapegoat at joys they tear you up in there shares. I have also played the role of tearing others up in there shares and trying to push them in a relapse when they wouldn’t accept the group”.
(aacultwatch forum; subject entitled “Elite club”) http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E

A.A. Grapevine articles by professional alcoholism councillors:

A Plea for Non-interference (AA Grapevine May 1990, Vol.46 no.12).

I have a high regard and respect for AA's Twelve Step program and have witnessed countless success stories….. I am also aware of unnecessary human pain and suffering among recovering members…… Often I have heard AA members who think they know best for all alcoholics and perceive that if you just ‘work the program’ everything will be fine. That is not always the case. There are members in your program who have experienced traumatic, life threatening events and who need professional help and, sometimes, medication……… On several occasions I have had clients who were extremely suicidal and had sought professional help. Recently, two clients threatened suicide, and because AA members thought they knew more than the medical and psychological professions, the individuals almost died… …yet AA members stepped in and convinced my clients to discontinue use of the medication.

……… Members often advise vulnerable, emotionally confused people not to seek medical and mental health assistance, and to take no drugs………..The two suicidal individuals of whom I speak had been sexually abused as children by three or more members of their families and had experienced other abuses as well. Both were emotionally and psychologically fragile………..I suggest that each AA member read in the Big Book where it addresses the issues of obtaining outside professional help when it is necessary…...... I do not like to be placed in a position where people want to die and it's up to me to try and protect them from self-harm. I am the person in the trenches, passionately dedicated to saving lives and helping all people recover not only from alcoholism but other life threatening problems. Please stop telling other recovering AA members not to consult physicians and psychotherapists. Please stop telling members that they are ‘breaking sobriety’ by taking needed medication. Please stop enabling members to attempt suicide.
(Extracts of an article by P…B…, alcoholism councillor, Colorado)

Dear Grapevine, Playing Doctor” (AA grapevine January 2010)

As a psychologist in addictions, with 23 years of recovery in AA, I would like to express concern about the letter titled ‘Misdiagnosis’ (Dear Grapevine, September 2009). While it is true that many people in mental health have inadequate addictions training, it is also true that many people with addictions have other mental health issues. I have not seen the sign, ‘I have one disease--alcoholism--and if I take care of that one disease, everything will be okay,’ at any meeting, nor is this sentiment reflected in any AA literature. Many people have co-occurring substance/alcohol and psychiatric disorders that interact with each other. Untreated bipolar disorder is not conducive to ongoing sobriety, for example. Neither is active psychosis. The list goes on. Dr. Bob and Bill W. emphasized respect and cooperation with the mental health professional community. We emphasize not playing God in AA; let's remember not to play doctor, too. Anonymous””

Comment: A fairly hard hitting analysis of where WE have failed (individually and collectively) to be both accountable and responsible for the welfare of those who come to us for assistance. It is worth noting here that these problems have not been imported into AA from outside ie. via treatment centres etc but have emerged from within our own society. Moreover we have already been explicitly warned of the personality type which underlies these dogma driven and essentially dishonest approaches. In this instance we refer you to the basic text: “Alcoholics Anonymous”, Chapter Five: How it Works pp. 60-62 (beginning with: “The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life...” and ending with: “We had to have God's help”.). From this it can be seen that these essentially narcissistic personalities seek to impose their perspective (largely false and mostly contrived) on others either by manipulation or by direct coercion. Their strategies are various ranging from: a presentation of an alternative AA programme citing Oxford Group (a fundamentalist Christian movement) influences together with references to a preliminary draft of the Big Book (that presented a much more dogmatic approach - and which was subsequently rejected by the early members as unworkable); a largely apocryphal (and predominantly anecdotal) presentation of AA recovery rates (ranging from 75% to 97%) that (it is alleged) was the norm in the 'Akron version' of the recovery method, this delivered via an authoritarian 'sponsorship' system (established supposedly by Clarence Snyder – an early AA member who moreover did not view with any great favour the adoption of AA's Traditions). As already indicated the internet now provides the means for an easy dissemination of this reformulation of both AA history and methodology. We have acquired a whole swathe of largely self-appointed 'experts' on recovery who use this medium for the proliferation of their highly questionable 'philosophies'. So for example David C (Joys of Recovery etc) believes himself qualified to pronounce on matters relating to medical diagnosis, counselling, psychiatric conditions etc. To the best of our knowledge he has neither formal training in these disciplines nor even direct experience (and nor for that matter did his sponsor David B)(see Dual Recovery Anonymous (Medications and Recovery) for more on the consequences of such advice). His approach most clearly exemplifies the role of sponsor as the new “Higher Power” in AA. Indeed far from “quit[ting] playing God” this type exercises a degree of control over their charges' lives which would be the envy of any Stalinist regime with no sphere of activity being exempt from their direction (and we do mean here 'direction' and not 'suggestion); dress code, relationships, work, finances, sexual activity, beliefs, attitudes, values etc all fall within the purview of this almost God-like personage.(see here: an example of sexual voyeurism included as part of the cult's version of a moral inventory). For their part the compliance of their 'victims' is ensured through a mixture of bribes (eg. the so-called twelve promises) together with the ultimate and extremely potent sanction (ie. 'if you fail to take direction you'll drink again!') and so on. The Primary Purpose/Back to Basics gang, on the other hand, tend to favour a misrepresentation of AA recovery rates to lend any credence to their own version of recovery claiming that the alleged decline can be attributed to a progressive “watering down” of its original presentation. In connection with this the essay by Tom P (later amended by his son Tom P Jnr) “Gresham's Law and Alcoholics Anonymous” is frequently cited as supporting evidence together with various questionable statistics (generally unsupported themselves by any hard evidence or derived from samples so small that they hardly represent a sound basis for any argument), both of which have been challenged by AA members (see here and here). The Back to Basics movement make various claims about the numbers of people who have been through their course and their success (unspecified). However they seem unable to supply the requisite data and moreover seem ambivalent about their relationship with AA ie. are they independent of AA or are their groups listed in our Where to Finds? The Primary Purpose grouping again place much emphasis on the 'watering down angle' (tied in with a commercial operation - a nice little sideline involving bookbinding). Cliff B, Myers R, Chris R seem to be most active in promoting their various study groups, workshops, speaker tours together with all the usual spin offs (study guides, CDs etc – and not forgetting of course those rather expensive but oh-so-desirable custom bound copies of the Big Book care of Myers R and Chris R). The Road to Recovery (otherwise known as “Joys”, “Visions” or more colloquially amongst AA members as the “Taliban”, “Step Nazis” etc) derives from the movement founded by David B (and continued by David C) back in the late seventies/early eighties. David B (the originator of the “Misery is Optional” slogan, this itself a misrepresentation of AA literature) placed a great deal of emphasis on the role of sponsorship elevating it to its current perverse pre-eminence within the cult hierarchy. Interestingly David B omitted to practice what he preached failing apparently to avail himself of this allegedly indispensable adjunct to recovery (it was discovered subsequently that his so-called sponsor was yet another figment of his extremely fertile imagination!). A liar and a fraud (and with voyeuristic tendencies) he was nevertheless most convincing and managed to build up a small coterie (based mostly in Chelsea and its environs) but which subsequently dispersed to other parts of the country including - and most notably - Plymouth. Here it has flourished (to such an extent that the local intergroup is essentially run by this single group) and has formed links with the Pacific Group in the US. With regard to the latter this has been headed up for some years by Clancy I. The same pattern emerges as always with these essentially incestuous cliques, and from which devolve the usual abuses associated with such groupings, this culminating in probably the worst exemplar to date: the Midtown groups in Washington DC. (Incidentally - and perhaps not totally surprisingly – the ex-ring leader of this group Mike Q(uinones)(now deceased) was a sponsee of Clancy I as is Wayne P of the Road to Recovery (Plymouth). Now it would be unreasonable to blame the sponsor for the misdeeds of their sponsees but one does have to ask what kind of “guidance” was (is) being offered in these cases; let's hope it's not “direction” and, moreover, doesn't involve 'meds'; Clancy is an exponent of the anti-prescribed medication perspective!). Finally we come to Joe (deceased) and Charlie, a duet of AA members who for some years now have been “carrying the AA message” (although which one we're not quite sure!) to all and sundry. In a virtually non-stop tour their workshops, tapes, CDs etc have been disseminated throughout AA (mostly in the US but with regular forays into Great Britain - usually via the Bristol Reunion – yet another questionable collective!). The material is mostly innocuous though heavily laden with Christian referencing and primarily suitable for those AA members who prefer their programme pre-packaged and 'microwaveable'. The audience at least will come away from these events feeling satisfied in the same way one does after consuming a Chinese takeaway. The warm glow of satiation lasts just long enough to give the illusion of a filling meal but then the hunger returns too soon afterwards. Still one can always top up with another CD from some other expert with yet another version of the recovery programme! Perhaps this one will include Chapter 7 – Joe and Charlie for some reason seem to have missed that bit out in their own unique rendition? Or perhaps it's because the Big Book's Step 12 doesn't quite coincide with theirs).

More anon

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Thursday 26 January 2012

WESTGATE MORNING BIG BOOK STUDY SUNDAY Meeting (East Kent IG)



Well it would seem that one - or possibly two - of the East Kent "Harrys" (they're multiplying at an alarming rate!) has set up shop at the above mentioned meeting. Both of these are widely acknowledged as 'experts' on the recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous (as indeed they will unceasingly remind anyone who happens to stumble into their path!). It would seem that the rest of the fellowship in East Kent (and even adjacent intergroups) have been barking up the wrong tree completely and have somehow managed to stray from the “Road of Happy Destiny”. Fortunately for us (and here you cannot even begin to comprehend the depth our gratitude!) 'Batman and Robin' have now come to the rescue and have set about with considerable vigour to guide us back to safety. But enough already of the irony! This meeting joins a number of others in East Kent where the cult has set up Primary Purpose franchises. viz.

Dover
Monday at 7.30pm
Rear Room
Our Lady of Dover RC Church
Roosevelt Road
Dover
All meetings ‘Open’
Contacts: Harry K …..Harry A
Herne Bay
Wednesday at 7.30pm
The Retreat, RC Church
2 Clarence Road
Herne Bay
All meetings ‘Open’
Contact: Harry K …....


Both of these groups have formed affiliations with an outside enterprise ie. the Dallas Primary Purpose gang – a semi commercial operation (does a nice little sideline in leather bound Big Books – a snip at £40 so we hear!) which presents - additionally - entirely misleading information on AA recovery rates. The Westgate meeting does not yet appear in their directory (but this surely is merely an omission on the part of the Caped Crusader and his 'humble' side kick - soon to be rectified!).

So if you want to get the 'low down' on how to do the programme PROPERLY then get on down to one of these meetings and join the 'enlightened ones' - or even: “AS HARRY SEES IT!”

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Fort Lauderdale Speakers Group



We have received information that some concerns have been expressed about this group:

Fort Lauderdale Speakers Group
100 N Andrews Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1085
Fridays 7:30pm

previously located at:

St. Benedict's Episcopal Church
7801 NW 5th Street
Plantation, FL 33324

They are already listed in our US Cult Where to Find as a group with outside affiliations ie. Into Action

The criticisms are as follows:

Non- adherence to traditions by promoting non-AA events and enterprises;

giving away Hazelden little red Big Books;

recording the meeting without announcing it to the meeting. They may tell the speaker, but do not tell anyone else. They post the meeting recordings on non-AA websites.”

So far their responses to these criticisms have been less than constructive.

More importantly (from our perspective) group members “have told their sponsees to stop taking their medications. One was medication for depression, and the other for bipolar.”

Apparently this group is an off-shoot of the Boca Speakers group which is run along the same lines.

Same old same old! Some people just never learn!

See here for AA guidelines on prescribed medications.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(our thanks to our local reporter)

Saturday 21 January 2012

AA BULLSHIT BINGO


"Do you keep falling asleep in meetings? What about those long and boring using stories?? Get tired of the same old Slogan Babble, or members who continue to deal with the same problems, same defects, and same painful relationships FOR YEARS?

Here's a way to change all that...

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, prepare yourself by drawing a square. I find that 5" x 5" is a good size. Divide the card into columns- five across and five down. That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.

2. Write one of the following word/phrases in each block:

Issues
Inner-child
Living Amends
Meaningful Relationship
Didn't Mean to Use
I'm Stuck On Step ____
Couldn't Find A Meeting
My Sponsor Has Been Out Of Town
Can't change
Won't change
Yeah But
Oh, The Pain
But.... Don't you think
Misunderstood
Never
Rational
Recovery
Recovering Person
Searching (as in, "for answers")
Gonna (sometimes prefaced with, "I'm")
Been thinking (sometimes prefaced with, "I've")
she/he said,
"I know what it is I need to do but..."
Dysfunctional
I heard
Rage
I don't know much about this, but...

3. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those words or phrases.

4. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, stand up and shout "BULLSHIT!"


TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED "AA BULLSHIT BINGO" PLAYERS:

--"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won."
Adam W., Atlanta

--"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically."
David T., Tampa

--"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win."
Dan J., NY City

--"The atmosphere was tense in the last "Gratitude" meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box. "
Ben G., Denver

--"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed out "BULLSHIT" for the third time in 20 minutes."
Carnie Joe, Miami

Play "AA BULLSHIT Bingo" at your next meeting!

Author - Anonymous"



Have fun!

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(Our thanks for this amusing contribution from an AA member)

Thursday 19 January 2012

A Minority report (continued)(2)



The incidents with Chuck D. and “Our promoter friend” show that in the past, cult groups in AA have been stopped before they could even begin by active intervention of “trusted servants” and “elder statesmen” upholding A.A. Traditions. They recognised the link between figureheads and “degeneration into a cult.” (Jack Alexander article about AA, page 23) In other words, the rise of a “tyranny of very small minorities invested with absolute power.” (Concept V). These “trusted servants and” “elder statesmen” in the 1940s and 1958 were therefore evidently “prudently ever on guard against tyrannies great and small.”(Concept 12, warranty six). They also clearly understood the Traditions to be principles upon which the survival of the fellowship depends, rather than “just suggestions.” They evidently understood it to be their responsibility and duty to be active guardians of Traditions by informing “Traditions violators that they are out of order” (Concept 12, warranty five). They evidently understood their duty of care to protect a vulnerable minority from coercion and abuse, “That care will be observed to respect and protect all minorities,” (Concept 12, warranty 6). They evidently understood their responsibility and authority as “trusted servants” that they were trusted to actively guard the principles of AA Traditions and assert their leadership in Tradition Two, to perform the “duty of leadership, even when in a small minority, to take a stand against a storm,” (Concept IX), - The upholding of Tradition Two, of which Bill W. was later to go to great lengths to explain in the Twelve Concepts for World Service in 1962:

“…All of this is fully implied in A.A.’s Tradition Two. Here we see the ‘group conscience’ as the ultimate authority and the ‘trusted servant’ as the delegated authority. One cannot function without the other” (Concept X) “Hence the principle of amply delegated authority and responsibility to ‘trusted servants’ must be implicit from the top to the bottom of our active structure of service. This is the clear implication of A.A.’s Tradition Two” (Concept II) “Trusted servants at all A.A. levels are expected to exercise leadership, and leadership is not simply a matter of submissive housekeeping” (Concept VII) “Leadership is often called upon to face heavy and sometimes long-continued criticism” (Concept IX) “All around us in the world today we are witnessing the tyranny of majorities and the even worse tyranny of very small minorities invested with absolute power” (Concept V) “that care will be observed to respect and protect all minorities… …That our Conference shall ever be prudently on guard against tyrannies, great and small, whether these be found in the majority or in the minority” (Concept XII: Warranty 6). “Feeling the weight of all these forces, certain members who run counter to A.A.’s Traditions sometimes say that they are being censored or punished and that they are therefore being governed. It would appear however, that A.A.’s right to object calmly and privately to specific violations is at least equal to the rights of the violators to violate. This cannot accurately be called a governmental action” (Concept XII, warranty 5).

In contrast to the leadership described above, recent history reveals the apparent lack of it, perhaps a 20-30 year trend toward liberty above that of our common welfare, leading to a “tyranny of apathetic, self-seeking, uninformed, …..majorities” (concept V), this in turn, has led to the presence of figureheads, and the motivation for an “even worse tyranny of very small minorities invested with absolute power” (concept V), and in some groups, a “degeneration into a cult” (Jack Alexander article about AA, page 23). This has resulted in abuse of the vulnerable and bad press for AA, as reported in the Independent (UK) and in the Washington Post (USA).

The difference between good service leadership and no leadership at all in the face of rising dictators, spells the difference between future A.A. unity and anarchy. If A.A. continues the current trend in autonomous groups, “personality before principle” speaker recordings, lectures, guides and trinket business, then this may eventually lead to a systemic failing of the “but one ultimate authority” in Tradition Two. The experience of the disintegration of the Washingtonian movement (Language of the Heart page 5; Tradition 10, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions page 180-183) predicts the future:


If, on the other hand, A.A. opts for A.A. Tradition, “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole”, then the exception to group autonomy in Tradition 4 implies that “elder statesmen” and “Good Service Leaders” (concept IX) will face their responsibility to intervene when necessary. As Synanon cult leader Chuck D recalled 1958: “They made things difficult for us… ... and we never went back to A.A. again.” And as Bill W. recalled his encounter with “Our promoter friend”: “We assured our well-meaning friend that we would certainly uphold his right to free speech. But we added that he ought to uphold ours, too. We assured him that if his “lectures” went on air, we would advise every A.A. group of the circumstances and ask them to write strong letters… ... … letters of a kind the sponsor might not like to receive.” (A.A. comes of Age page 131)”

Comment: The emphasis in this section is clearly upon the moral responsibility of “leaders” to LEAD (by example), to have the COURAGE to SPEAK OUT when they witness corrupt practices, to CHALLENGE those who would abuse their power, and finally to DEFEND AA and its principles against those “personalities” who would subvert our fellowship. However we would go further than this and argue that it is the duty of every AA member to actively uphold our traditions, and that when they witness evil they should oppose it; failure to act, to look the other way, is no longer an option. Cult leaders have demonstrated time and time again their utter contempt for our principles. They are more than willing to set these aside or indeed pervert them in pursuit of their sole aim: personal power. Their victims constitute the most vulnerable section of our fellowship - the newcomers. We are manifestly failing in our duty of care to these and if we continue to do so why should we expect others to place their trust in us; we simply would not deserve it. The writing is very clearly on the wall. If we do not learn from the lessons of the past then history will surely repeat itself..... Either we shape up or ship out!

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Tuesday 17 January 2012

WHAT PURPOSE DO CULTS SERVE?


How does "group think" affect an individual? If we see a mugging on the street, studies have shown that we are more likely to help if we witness it alone rather than in a crowd. Why is that? Because unless trained otherwise, we look for someone else, perhaps someone more trained, to handle the situation, to take responsibility for what is occurring. Look at any culture and generally speaking, there are far more followers in this world than leaders.

Cults exist because most people want to feel part of something bigger. However, by virtue of their association with a cult, members who started out feeling uncomfortable with the cult/group—perhaps they didn’t want to be perceived as "different" or were asked to forsake unbelieving family members early on, or didn’t want to be part of the cult’s aggressive sales force—soon find that they end up feeling uncomfortable with everyone outside the group. The need to fit in never really dissipates, for involvement with the cult creates its own brand of exclusion. That’s the oxymoron of cults. The table which I created below shows it better than I can perhaps explain it. Desire of Cult Member
Reality
To feel accepted/ experience unconditional love. Have a sense of community and purpose.
While seeking acceptance, the cult member ironically forfeits acceptance by up to 99.99% of "mainstream" society while embracing the less populated cult world. Their attempt to "fit in" is severely misaligned. A cult member never fully feels a sense of belonging or a sense that they can trust anyone—other cult members or nonbelievers. Tattling is prevalent in cults and members are often turned in for perceived "sins." The cult is never at fault and unconditional love does not exist. Just as an abusive husband tells his wife, "You forced me to hit you," members are taught that it is their weakness that forced the cult to get "rough" with them and put them on notice. They are taught that this is love. Like an abused child seeking acceptance from its parent, or a wife cowering to her abusive husband, the cult member is taught to meekly return to the "fold," only to be emotionally or physically abused again and again and again. Acceptance in a cult is an illusion.
To feel special. To be "chosen," as having the "way" or "the sole truth" as part of an elite group.
As mentioned above, the cult member becomes an outsider to society and their biological family as soon as they become involved with a cult. Their involvement can’t help but be viewed as dangerous by all who truly love them. But the more a loving family member tries to engage the cult member, the more they (the cult member), propelled by a cult-induced fear, push their loved ones away. This behavior perpetuates and embellishes the delusion that they are special and that others just "don’t get it." This act of estrangement follows two of the eight points of mind control described by cult expert, Robert J Lifton: a) Milieu Control and b) Demand for Purity. In addition, cults use coercive persuasion/ subtle mind control, fear and repetitive busy work/indoctrination practices (studies/classes, etc.) to keep their followers involved, believing that they have some exclusive right of passage to something greater. Uniqueness and feeling special in a cult is also an illusion because the opposite is accomplished: you actually become a cookie-cutter clone and any individuality and talents you may have possessed prior to membership become exploited by the cult leader(s) solely for their benefit.



Cheers


The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)


(our usual thanks extended)

Saturday 14 January 2012

A Minority report (continued)(1)


One can only take an informed guess from the words of Bill W. in the article about “Our promoter friend” who turned “alarming poser” (AA comes of Age page 130-131), how he and those trustees would have responded to the rise of the figurehead Joe McQ; who elevated himself to "teacher" and author of the book “Carry This Message – guide to Big Book Sponsorship;” which carries his “message.” - a “strange mixture of AA and his own religious ideas” (AA comes of Age page 130) and his treatment centre Recovery Dynamics program.

The following are extracts from “Carry This Message – a guide to Big Book Sponsorship”, by Joe McQ:

As sponsors we know, there are certain things we require of a sponsoree [sic]… … … he has to carry out his assignments and do the things you ask him to do” (page 25).

“… … we are working with an undisciplined person. Assignments should be given, and the sponsor should make it clear to the person that assignments have to be done by a specific time…..there are certain things we require of a sponsoree [sic]… … He has to carry out his assignments and do the things you ask him to do … … Dr. Bob said ‘Get down on your knees.’ And they took step 3… … But an alcoholic can do just about anything you make her do. If you insist that she do certain things, she’ll get them done. She has to go from the undisciplined to the disciplined… … At our treatment centre, Serenity Park, we require all the clients get a sponsor within the third week… The sponsor teaches discipline… … everything is working on this undisciplined person… …. An undisciplined person may fight discipline, but it has to be enforced to help the person….” (Pages, 26, 27) You can’t just say to the sponsoree [sic] ‘go start on your inventory’ because it might take him a month, maybe two. Create a schedule by saying something like, ‘We are going to work on resentments for two days’ then do the other inventories similarly, with a schedule for each one which doesn’t allow the sponsoree [sic] to skimp, but moves him or her along at a good pace….(Step Four assignment). You need to move your sponsoree [sic] along pretty fast…. but you need to keep the sponsoree [sic] busy and keep her moving… you should just move him right on through them bam, bam, bam, bam. Keep the momentum…..”  (Page 65)

Remember that all the people in our fellowship groups are not really alcoholics… … … They aren’t really alcoholics – because an alcoholic can’t do that. They don’t usually stay; they just come in an out of our fellowship. But they don’t have a message to share…..” (Page 65)

The Online Oxford dictionary definition of brain wash:

verb [with object]

pressurize (someone) into adopting radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible means: people are brainwashed into believing family life is the best (as noun brainwashing)


Extracts from “The Steps we took”, Joe McQ. of the ‘Big Book Study Tapes’:

There is a story in the Bible how all this conflict began. The Garden of Eden story… … the Bible says ‘we are God-like’… … So he created Adam and Eve and put them in Serenity Park…. One day a snake came up to Eve and he said… … ‘Hey Eve you’ve got self will’… … Eve had never heard such a thing so she said ‘What’s that?’… … So the snake ran it down to her. He said ‘You can do whatever you want to!’ She couldn’t wait, she ran to tell Adam, ‘Adam, Adam we’ve got self –will.’ He probably said ‘What in the world is that?’ So she explained it to him… …” (Page 40, 41)

I think one of the mistakes many people are making today is this: not only as individuals, but groups of people, get together and talk about their problems. They never seem to talk about what to do about them… … … There is no growth in this way of doing; in fact they just magnify their problems. I call this ‘group sickness…’ (Page 128)

I think Jesus may have been teaching the principle of the first step when he said ‘deny thyself.” (Page 19)

Step 1 opens the door to Step 2. I like to use the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) (Page 24)

The Bible says, ‘…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.’(John 8:32).” (Page 25)

David said in the 23rd psalm, ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’ (Page 53)

It’s like in the Bible, where it says there is time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1).” (Page 64)

Jesus said, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” (Page 124)

I love the passage in the Bible that says, ‘ Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in the darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.’(Psalms 91:5-6)

I also like the story of David the little shepherd boy and the giant Goliath.” (Page 146)

..That they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10) (page 155)

When we finish step 9 we get the promises.” (Page 123)

Since Bill didn’t have the capacity to write like a great expert in spiritual things, he laid out a beautiful, simple daily exercise.” (page 137)

This program may well have worked in his treatment centres. But by mixing this outside enterprise inside A.A. and by placing the books in the hands of the still emotionally suffering alcoholic sponsors who barely understand how irrational they are, the dictatorial, judgemental and disciplinarian terminology he used therein, has now left A.A. with the legacy of a cult following and an abusive style of coercive sponsorship from which it will take a lot of effort to recover. - A legacy of the violation of Traditions four (long form) six and twelve.

A disaffected alcoholic tells his story:

Thanks for this forum guys and gals. I am having grave difficulties with AA, as my experiences with it are not good, and I have been looking for a site to confirm my prejudices. I thought I had found it in the Orange Papers, but methinks that the author doth protest too much, and I am being turned off this site. I have been subjected to the primary purpose group by my sponsor whilst in treatment, and this was the tipping point for me. However, I was judging AA - all AA by the rantings of Chris R. Now I see that there ARE moderates in AA, people like yourselves, because whilst I realise that AA is not for me, I do respect the argument that it IS good for some people, and I look forward to reading the posts in this forum”. (aacultwatch forum subject entitled “AA cult.”)

In 1941 the good news was written in the press and A.A. began to take off:

Because of the absence of figureheads and the fact there is no formal body of belief to promote, they have no fears that Alcoholics Anonymous will degenerate into a cult.” (The Jack Alexander article about AA, page 23)

We wonder if the co-founders of AA would say the same thing if they were around today. Today our public image is not so good:

1998: The Independent: "Cult or cure: the AA backlash" ---- "Alcoholics Anonymous is under attack. Those who have been through its mill claim it is `authoritarian' and `fascistic', employs brainwashing techniques and is cultlike in its attitude to members. Ursula Kenny talks to the disaffected who have rejected its road to recovery...."

2009: The Independent: "Tom Shone takes on the all powerful cult of Alcoholics Anonymous"

Washington Post: “AA Group Leads Members Away from Traditions” by Marc Fisher, July 22, 2007:

Newsweek: A struggle inside AA, by Nick Summers, May 6th, 2007:

Cult Help and information library:

The public debate moves on from the press into various A.A. member’s websites and forums and non-AA related websites, including the parent toddler website mumsnet.com. - The disaffected A.A. members posting their experiences:










There can be little doubt, there is evidence that coercive sponsorship is being deployed by a minority of groups in A.A. and this is beginning get A.A. the reputation of being a cult. To avoid further loss of public confidence in A.A. and if vulnerable people are to be protected from abuse, then we need to see more examples of the Santa Monica pro A.A. Tradition elder statesmanship of 1958. (Concept IX in action). --In this modern World however, to be of effect to meet the present day needs of the fellowship, this needs to be both communicated and operating throughout the A.A. World Service Structure, top to bottom, as soon as possible.”

Comment:

Prompted by the Minority report a member of the aacultwatch team was delegated the job of locating a transcript of the Joe and Charlie product and giving it the “once over”. Apart from a heavy ladening of Christian exegesis (something not to be found explicitly demonstrated in conference approved literature and which would be quite contrary to AA traditions by the way!) they did come across the following quote under the section dealing with Step 12:

We don’t want to go through this next chapter (Working with Others) we don’t have the time, but I [Joe or Charlie presumably] do want to look at two or three things in it very briefly.”

and true to their word they did indeed very briefly consider this section. This would go some way to explain the dogmatic sponsorship style advocated above which is nowhere demonstrated in Chapter 7 Working with Others. Interestingly these two it would seem are as guilty as those they criticise, of approaching the programme “cafeteria style” ie. take what you like and leave the rest. In this instance in their so-called Big Book study they have managed to omit virtually an entire chapter. Not bad going! Now what's the word for this? Ah yes! Hypocrisy!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For more coverage of the Joe and Charlie epic insert “Joe and Charlie” in the local Google search on the aacultwatch site.