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Are the 12-step programs popular in other countries besides US?

N

nanette1985

Diamond Member
How do other countries treat alcoholism? Is AA global? Do other countries do a better/worse job of curing alcoholism?
 
my friend told me in Korea there is no such thing as alcoholism. just people who like to drink more than you.
 
Canada has them, though we're America's sponge. I don't know how AA continues to get the reputation it has, what with their piss poor success rate. You just need the disciprine.
 
mmntech said:
Canada has them, though we're America's sponge. I don't know how AA continues to get the reputation it has, what with their piss poor success rate. You just need the disciprine.
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AA's success rate's pretty amazing compared to the alternative of stopping yourself. I don't know a single person who's been able to stop on their own for more than a few months. But I do know a handful who haven't had a drink in years and attribute it to attending daily AA meetings. It takes more than just discipline, a lot more.
 
QueBert said:
AA's success rate's pretty amazing compared to the alternative of stopping yourself. I don't know a single person who's been able to stop on their own for more than a few months. But I do know a handful who haven't had a drink in years and attribute it to attending daily AA meetings. It takes more than just discipline, a lot more.
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and I know people who still attend AA meetings and have racked up multiple DUIs since their court ordered first appearance.


AA has a pretty miserable success rate.
 
bfdd said:
and I know people who still attend AA meetings and have racked up multiple DUIs since their court ordered first appearance.


AA has a pretty miserable success rate.
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Again, compared to people who try and stop on their own, AA's success rate is infinitely better. To say it's miserable's pretty subjective. Addictions of any kind are hard to overcome and the failure rate will always be way higher than the success rate. And as far as fighting alcoholism nothing comes close to being as effect as AA. Your example of people with DUI's is pretty invalid since most attent AA meetings only because a judge told them if they didn't they would go to jail, or be back in jail if they already went and were out.
 
QueBert said:
AA's success rate's pretty amazing compared to the alternative of stopping yourself. I don't know a single person who's been able to stop on their own for more than a few months. But I do know a handful who haven't had a drink in years and attribute it to attending daily AA meetings. It takes more than just discipline, a lot more.
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QueBert said:
Again, compared to people who try and stop on their own, AA's success rate is infinitely better. To say it's miserable's pretty subjective. Addictions of any kind are hard to overcome and the failure rate will always be way higher than the success rate. And as far as fighting alcoholism nothing comes close to being as effect as AA. Your example of people with DUI's is pretty invalid since most attent AA meetings only because a judge told them if they didn't they would go to jail, or be back in jail if they already went and were out.
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Sorry, but its success rate is not any higher. I believe they even have internal studies that show this.
 
darkswordsman17 said:
Sorry, but its success rate is not any higher. I believe they even have internal studies that show this.
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The success rate is higher, I worked for awhile at a recovery clinic, any good doctor who specializes in addiction will say without AA or NA a person won't stay sober for long. Dr. Drew Penisky comes to mind. He's one of the most respected addiction medication doctors in the country. Support groups are absolutely the most important factor to help someone who wants to become & stay sober. And AA provides this for free. The % is still low, but if you had a life threatening illness and were given a 5% chance of living without surgery, or a 10% with surgery. Which would you chose? 10% isn't good by any means but it's still better than 5%.
 
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QueBert said:
The success rate is higher, I worked for awhile at a recovery clinic, any good doctor who specializes in addiction will say without AA or NA a person won't stay sober for long. Dr. Drew Penisky comes to mind. He's one of the most respected addiction medication doctors in the country. Support groups are absolutely the most important factor to help someone who wants to become & stay sober. And AA provides this for free. The % is still low, but if you had a life threatening illness and were given a 5% chance of living without surgery, or a 10% with surgery. Which would you chose? 10% isn't good by any means but it's still better than 5%.
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I think the implied statement was that AA/12 Step programs have a statistically identical success rate to non 12 step / non faith based programs.
 
As Sentenced once said when asked why they had decided to start a band, there's three things you can do in Finland: Drink, sing, or suicide. Although Korpiklaani combines the first two perfectly (with classic songs like 'Happy Little Boozer', 'Beer Beer', 'Vodka', 'Wooden Pints' and the new one 'Tequila').

Here in the Netherlands there's an AA equivalent to my knowledge, and there's institutes that counter addictions in general, including alcoholism.
 
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