I read a book last week by James Frey titled, A Million Little Pieces.  He was an addict/alcoholic and jouraled his rehab experience.  It helped so much to see addiction from another point of view.  I saw him today on Oprak and I think he has been wonderfully successful with his recovery. (13 years clean).  He did not agree with the NA/AA way and chose to recover in his own way.  I have heard that without the twelve steps, it is not true recovery/sobriety.  I don't think I agree with that after hearing hius story. I don't even know if I am allowed to post about this book so I apologize if I am not.  The point I am trying to make is this...Some advice given by a fellow patient wwas "Just hold on!"  James took that advice to heart and remembered it everytime things got tough, he had using dreams, withdrawel...feelings of hoplessness/helplessness.  I took this with me when I put the book down.  And along with the Serenity Prayer, I repeat this to myself several times a day.  Sometimes over and over again.  James Frey says that no matter what you are feeling or what you are going through, just hold on because sooner or later, it will change.

Posts like this one scare me, they really do.... Not that any one of us knows for sure, what is right and wrong in recovery....  But the statistics don't lie, and the NA/AA approach is fifty-fold more successful than any of these other suggestions...

No doubt this approach worked for the individual you mention, and more power to him, but the tried and true approach to recovery and sobriety is through the doors of NA/AA.  My biggest concern, is that newbies, either in al-anon, or addicts in need of help themselves, will grasp onto these types of low percentage gambles, in the hopes to avoid doing the real work necessary for their recovery.

Just my opinion...

Tom

Powerless, I too have read that book. It was facinating. But I have also read The Tao of Sobriety, along with many others. My A has read many books too. To me saying that one approach or the other is the way to go is to say that all people heal the same way. As someone who has an anthropological background, I can't say that. Each person is an individual. It's what we call "cookie-cutter science". My emotional, spiritual and physical makeup is different from my A's. I'm not an addict he is. He loves his AA meetings, but he also finds strength from other books. His favorites books are still the Blue Book and his daily refelctions. I think the fundamental tools are here and at AA. I have learned so much from this site. For newbies, I'd start with the tried and true. When you get stronger and if something is lacking, then look for other views. Remember recovery is a deeply personal thing. Do what works for you. For the majority of us, it's this approach. It's gives you a great foundation to build on. Live strong, Karilynn

I work at our town library. Just this morning I saw the book laying by the adult circulation phone.

I also read the book and am getting ready to start the sequel My Friend Leonard.  I know he says he doesn't believe the 12 steps but if you read that book.....in one way or another he did the steps and even some of the sayings he kept repeating were very much like the slogans.  And.....as much as he stated he doesn't believe in a HP, at one point he curses God....How do you curse something that doesn't exist? and we all know that a higher power can be anything/body outside ourselves.  I think the book is valuable in understanding the physical/emotional anguish that addiction is...his writing is so graphic and real that you feel his pain.  Well worth the read!

In my personal opinion,,this is an alanon site,,so only CAL should be quoted. Once we start leaving the prime directive of alanon, we lose the spiritual path of recovery that we all seek who come here. When we start introducing other literature, outside alanon philosophy ,it can become quite confusing especially for new comers....... keep it simple,,,,,,,,,,,,,.....gardengal