“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”.
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)
