No, I think that way of looking at it makes it seem hopeless and like there’s nothing you can do about what you do. I think of substance abuse as a mental illness.
Yeah, that sounds too simplistic. And judgmental. We’re not ill because of our behavior. Not that addiction is entirely voluntary, but you know what I mean.
Actually it’s meant to do to the opposite. When an alcoholic or addict discovers his/her drinking or using is a treatable disease and not a moral failing it is the first step to recovery.
It’s like schizophrenia when some people go through years of suffering without being diagnosed and without knowing what is wrong and then they finally get diagnosed. For some people it’s a relief to finally put a label on what’s wrong with them and find out they have a medical condition. It’s the first step to recovery.
Psychiatry is definitely the future of addiction imo. This AA stuff will be considered a great novelty. Maybe they’ll still have meetings. But psychiatry will thump will power and fellowship in the future.
The whole idea behind AA is one alcoholic helping another. Meetings are for support and for people to share their struggles with alcohol and to tell what worked for them. There is a fair amount of doom and gloom but I’ve also sat in many rooms full of addicts and alcoholics where there’s lots of laughing and a positive atmosphere.