Help Alcoholics Recover

How can we help alcoholics recover? Traditional recovery programs have tried to answer this question for decades now, and typically without much success.

Part of the problem is that existing recovery programs lack customization. They are a one-size-fits-all affair that end up not really helping anyone as much as they could if they were tailored to individuals. For example, 12 step programs, which typically dominate the recovery scene, have remained unchanged for decades.

When someone needs help with addiction or alcoholism, we typically send them to a traditional recovery program such as AA or NA. When that fails to produce decent results, instead of blaming the program we always blame the individual, saying that "they just didn't want it enough," or that "they just did not get into the spiritual side of the program." These excuses are unacceptable and we should be pushing ourselves to come up with a better solution, instead of simply blaming the individual. With success rates as low as they are in 12 step programs, it makes sense to seek alternatives. There are a couple of key strategies that fall outside of traditional recovery programs that I would suggest:

1) Push alcoholics to use treatment for early recovery. This is important because early recovery is so incredibly difficult; it can be a struggle just to string together a few days sober on "the outside." In a controlled environment it is much safer and easier to get started on sobriety.

2) Push alcoholics to create a new life for themselves. This is important because it is not enough to merely quit drinking. When an alcoholic drinks they do it with passion and it becomes a huge part of their life. In recovery, the alcoholic must find passion and purpose in some way or they will eventually revert back to that which once held meaning for them: drinking.

3) Push alcoholics to grow holistically. If you can get someone to grow in one area of their life, that is good. But if you can convince them to grow in several areas of their life, this is even better. Holistic growth means that they are treating the alcoholism as a whole, not just as a spiritual malady (as some programs treat it). Alcoholism clearly affects the whole person so it makes sense to treat it holistically. Some ways to do this might be through exercise, nutrition, relationship building, emotional balance, spiritual growth, and so on. Growth in all areas can create a synergistic effect that enhances recovery as a whole (the sum total is greater than the sum of the parts, in other words).

There are 3 major strategies that all good recovery programs employ, including 12 step fellowships. These 3 strategies are:

1) Caring for yourself

2) Networking with others

3) Pushing yourself to grow personally

If these 3 strategies are followed then a powerful experience can be created in recovery. Self esteem is naturally boosted through all 3 strategies and life becomes meaningful again. This leads to a real life purpose and passionate living. Note that this can happen both in and out of a 12 step program; the key is not in an exact program, but rather in the fundamental strategies that are employed.