As a long time reader, lurker and supporter of this Forum, and occasional contributor, I have been following events of the past few weeks here with some interest and dismay.
I'd like to make some observations in the hope that the majority of readers will find them helpful.
The principal purposes of this particular Forum are Medication Research and Support. It seems like these two purposes are in conflict. I happen to be a big believer in baclofen therapy for unrelenting craving, especially when other approaches like self-discipline, AA and other medications don't work. But baclofen therapy does have side effects and a long term baclofen regime can be daunting.
I also conclude (as do others here) that while baclofen therapy can effectively eliminate craving, it is too much to ask for it to resolve fundamental life issues like depression, anxiety and other mental illness, as well as work/life balance issues, family and marital tensions, persisting traumas and spiritual maladies. So, it seems to me that expressing doubts or concerns about baclofen efficacy is legitimate, and that there may well be medications that are being discovered or will be discovered that work better. Researching, reporting and discussing these issues on an internet forum seems to me to be a legitimate activity. Medication is still not a totally effective or benign answer to alcoholism and debate seems appropriate.
How this discussion unfolds is another question. I would like to think we could debate the pros and cons of different approaches to medication...and freedom from addiction...in a civilized and courteous manner, but given who we are...alcoholics...I can understand the discord. I don't like it but I can understand it. I would say...let it go.
The problem arises, I think, when we consider the second prong of the Forum...Support. It seems to me that a raucous debate over controversial medical treatment on the same forum where people, some in fragile states, come for support is inconsistent and can be very unhelpful. It should go without saying that the name calling and invective that we have seen over the past few weeks has no place on a support forum -- ever. This behavior, including the use of real world names, some of which has been displayed by some of my long time friends on this forum, is really deplorable. And I would include those on both sides of the recent antagonism and ask them, for their own sakes and for all of our sakes, to please stop.
Perhaps one solution would be to separate the informational and support prongs of the Forum. The second solution might be for all of us when we come here to pause before we hit the reply button and consider whether our contribution is really helpful to those who have come here for support.
Peace.
Cassander
I'd like to make some observations in the hope that the majority of readers will find them helpful.
The principal purposes of this particular Forum are Medication Research and Support. It seems like these two purposes are in conflict. I happen to be a big believer in baclofen therapy for unrelenting craving, especially when other approaches like self-discipline, AA and other medications don't work. But baclofen therapy does have side effects and a long term baclofen regime can be daunting.
I also conclude (as do others here) that while baclofen therapy can effectively eliminate craving, it is too much to ask for it to resolve fundamental life issues like depression, anxiety and other mental illness, as well as work/life balance issues, family and marital tensions, persisting traumas and spiritual maladies. So, it seems to me that expressing doubts or concerns about baclofen efficacy is legitimate, and that there may well be medications that are being discovered or will be discovered that work better. Researching, reporting and discussing these issues on an internet forum seems to me to be a legitimate activity. Medication is still not a totally effective or benign answer to alcoholism and debate seems appropriate.
How this discussion unfolds is another question. I would like to think we could debate the pros and cons of different approaches to medication...and freedom from addiction...in a civilized and courteous manner, but given who we are...alcoholics...I can understand the discord. I don't like it but I can understand it. I would say...let it go.
The problem arises, I think, when we consider the second prong of the Forum...Support. It seems to me that a raucous debate over controversial medical treatment on the same forum where people, some in fragile states, come for support is inconsistent and can be very unhelpful. It should go without saying that the name calling and invective that we have seen over the past few weeks has no place on a support forum -- ever. This behavior, including the use of real world names, some of which has been displayed by some of my long time friends on this forum, is really deplorable. And I would include those on both sides of the recent antagonism and ask them, for their own sakes and for all of our sakes, to please stop.
Perhaps one solution would be to separate the informational and support prongs of the Forum. The second solution might be for all of us when we come here to pause before we hit the reply button and consider whether our contribution is really helpful to those who have come here for support.
Peace.
Cassander
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