Is baclofen the new AA?
This is why I feel a bit sick when I hear people saying they "hate" AA. AA was formed at a time when the treatment for alcoholism was to either throw you in the nut house, or give up completely and let you die. AA came up with a system that gave some hope and support. In doing so it saved many lives and rehabs have kept me going giving me some respite. AA members give their time for mostly no reward, manning phones in their spare time etc. Remember when it first started out and for the majority of it's existence people didn't have the internet. So the groups brought people together. They will reject Baclofen until they see it working. Why?because addicts are known to get addicted to all sorts of alternatives including drugs, medication, gambling etc and they will want to be absolutely sure before accepting it. Whilst that is on one hadn frustrating, it's also a good thing because they can't afford to go along with every 'method' that comes along. That would be dangerous and possibly cause chaos. Remember ECT?That appeared to be a fantastic new idea to help with a whole range of illnesses. Good job that one didn't become the be all and end all. They are quite right to be wary in a way since they aren't a pharamacy and to associate themselves with a drug could also be wrong - one of the unique ways in which they work is that they don't affiliate themselves with other bodies which could start to make them into a commercial product.
I also agree with his thoughts regards Baclofen making rehab more effective. A lot of people use alcohol to hide behind. Whilst Baclofen removes a lot of the anxiety it doesn't answer all questions for quite a few people. It does however make it easier to start living a whole new approach to life, and firstly by eliminating the need for alcohol.
PbarE;1065129 wrote: This was definitely a spoof, and I am glad the majority of you took it that way. I just wanted to create a little lively debate between naps. (I am up to 180 mgs per day and I am nodding off all over the place). I was going to personally retort to a few comments, but I really don’t have the energy or alertness.
However, on a serious note, there were a couple of passages in Dr. A’s book, which are repeated on his web site, that really touched my soul. When asked about his attitude towards AA, the good doctor said, “Profound gratitude and admiration…. Without AA I might not have survived until I found an effective medication in baclofen.”
He also said, “…treating addiction with baclofen does not spell the end of rehab, (and) twelve-step programs like AA and NA... To the contrary, it will make all these programs more effective.”
I think he is absolutely right. And in a perfect world, the 12 step community would embrace baclofen as the missing piece it needs to effect full recovery. However, that is not going to happen unless some “baclofytes” are willing to step outside their comfort zone.
That is why I have made the decision that once I hit the switch and reach a state of indifference, I am going to go into the local rooms of AA and NA and talk about the medical miracle that saved my ass.
We all know what is likely to happen. I will get cussed out, cut-off, and accused of not “really being sober”. I will be told that baclofen is an “outside issue” and that the group “does not engage in controversy.”
So why would I be willing to become an outcast and a pariah?
First of all, there are people in those meetings who need to hear about baclofen. Granted, I will be scorned, shamed and snubbed by 90% of them, but there will always be a handful of folks who are beaten down and desperate. They need people like us to bring them some hope.
Isn’t that exactly what Dr. A did for us? I don’t know about ya’ll, but I was ready to eat a bullet when I stumbled across this answer. I was hopeless. His book changed all that.
I cannot even imagine the amount of courage it took for Dr. A to publish his initial case study and disclose his alcoholism to his peers. He really put himself out there for folks like us. If he was willing to risk it all, the least I can do is tell my fellow sufferers about his findings.
This is an entirely personal decision, and what is right for me is not necessarily right for you. I respect everyone’s right to choose their own path.
I am starting to nod off again, so I better climb down off this soapbox before I fall of it.
However, on a serious note, there were a couple of passages in Dr. A’s book, which are repeated on his web site, that really touched my soul. When asked about his attitude towards AA, the good doctor said, “Profound gratitude and admiration…. Without AA I might not have survived until I found an effective medication in baclofen.”
He also said, “…treating addiction with baclofen does not spell the end of rehab, (and) twelve-step programs like AA and NA... To the contrary, it will make all these programs more effective.”
I think he is absolutely right. And in a perfect world, the 12 step community would embrace baclofen as the missing piece it needs to effect full recovery. However, that is not going to happen unless some “baclofytes” are willing to step outside their comfort zone.
That is why I have made the decision that once I hit the switch and reach a state of indifference, I am going to go into the local rooms of AA and NA and talk about the medical miracle that saved my ass.
We all know what is likely to happen. I will get cussed out, cut-off, and accused of not “really being sober”. I will be told that baclofen is an “outside issue” and that the group “does not engage in controversy.”
So why would I be willing to become an outcast and a pariah?
First of all, there are people in those meetings who need to hear about baclofen. Granted, I will be scorned, shamed and snubbed by 90% of them, but there will always be a handful of folks who are beaten down and desperate. They need people like us to bring them some hope.
Isn’t that exactly what Dr. A did for us? I don’t know about ya’ll, but I was ready to eat a bullet when I stumbled across this answer. I was hopeless. His book changed all that.
I cannot even imagine the amount of courage it took for Dr. A to publish his initial case study and disclose his alcoholism to his peers. He really put himself out there for folks like us. If he was willing to risk it all, the least I can do is tell my fellow sufferers about his findings.
This is an entirely personal decision, and what is right for me is not necessarily right for you. I respect everyone’s right to choose their own path.
I am starting to nod off again, so I better climb down off this soapbox before I fall of it.
I also agree with his thoughts regards Baclofen making rehab more effective. A lot of people use alcohol to hide behind. Whilst Baclofen removes a lot of the anxiety it doesn't answer all questions for quite a few people. It does however make it easier to start living a whole new approach to life, and firstly by eliminating the need for alcohol.
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