Author: stephent
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:10 pm
| Jimmy wrote: |
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I’m sure you’ve all heard of Stanton Peele. I’m sure many of you have disdain for him, but I find his writings intriguing. If you are on the fence like I am about addiction being a true disease, you may find his writings interesting too. |
I don’t think you will find the disdain for him on this site like you do on many others. This board is non-biased. One of the things I find very off putting about some 12 steppers is the way they react to people that criticize the program. I swear, I heard more talk about Charlie Sheen "in the rooms" than I heard anywhere else. And this was right in the middle of the tiger blood stuff. Some people were absolutely livid that he said he was going to get clean without the program. Obviously, Sheen isn’t the best spokesperson for 12 step alternatives.
Again, I believe this is because the program is viewed as infallible. As many know, many drug and alcohol counselors are former addicts who get themselves clean via the program, so they tend to dominante the industry. I totally understand why many would be such strong supporters of something that got them clean, but at the same time it is there job to be open minded.
I personally do not feel it is a disease. I think it is just very strong conditioning (Pavlov’s dog on steroids). In the US, many view it as a disease, but many do it. Its just that those who take an active interest in defining what addiction is have also had some experience with it. Experience with addiction in the US leads to contact with the 12 steps. That leads to them pushing the disease model.
I don’t think I am powerless, in fact I am very powerful. I am proud of myself. I am proud of anyone who has gotten clean, is fighting to get clean, hell I am proud of people who have managed to cut back and are following the method of harm reduction prepping themselves to get clean. I had lots of practice before I made the decision to go All In.