5 Step and AA/NA

The 5 Step Program and AA/NA

• Self-examination
• acknowledgement of character defects
• restitution for harm done
• working with others

If you are interested in the 5 Step program, it is important that you understand – and “accept” – the basic philosophies that govern our efforts.

Inpatient Treatment – Detox

• If you are unable to voluntarily discontinue the use of alcohol or other drugs, you will need to enter a treatment program or participate in a detoxification effort.
  • 5 Step treatment participation is based on your desire, and physiological ability, to stop using alcohol or other drugs.

12 Steps to Sobriety

• The program design is based on indisputable proof that the 12 Steps of Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous work.
  • AA/NA attendance and study are mandatory elements.
    • Claims that the program is religious, members are obnoxious, serves lousy coffee, is boring, inconvenient etc. are irrelevant.
      • Meetings deal with behaviors and attitudes
      • Meetings are attended by folks who have won the drug battle.
      • Meetings provide us with an opportunity to help others and volunteer.
    • Our species has social needs that can be met with other AA/NA members. We need different “playmates”.
    • Experience will provide evidence that some solutions get solved – out of the blue.
• If you are married, we encourage family members to attend meetings of Alanon. The result of family attendance is that our TEAM “mates” tend to stop “enabling” our destructive behaviors.

The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) guidelines were published in 1938.  This book summarizes the tasks and thought processes that worked for the early founders of AA.

Self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others are the base elements brought to AA from the Oxford Group.

Since the organizations founding, millions of individuals have discontinued the use of drugs and have improved other destructive behaviors following these precepts.

 One of the founders of AA advocated that AA groups have not the “slightest reform of political complexion”. In 1946, he wrote “No AA group or members should ever, in such a way as to implicate AA, express any opinion on outside controversial issues — particularly those of politics, alcohol reform or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever. “Reworded, this became the 10 Traditions of AA.”

One of our reasons for trusting the thought processes of the AA founders is the 10 Traditions.  This organizational consideration is “profound”.  We know of no other organization, in the world, that insures that its purposes are never affected by outside issues.  There are no leaders – no politics – no joint finances – each group is autonomous.

Traditional Treatment vs 5 Step (AA/NA/Hazelden/Thinking Errors) 

• Treatment programs for clients who can afford treatment; recommend intense “post release” monitoring that includes counseling, consistent U.A.s and other elements. These activities are considered effective; but, are expensive; require employer participation and other personal resources.
  • The 5 Step program was designed to provide similar benefits for those of us who have limited resources.
  • Communications are mobile (text & verbal) and electronic.
  • Tele-healthcare counseling and other remote services are used.
• One element of your treatment will be studies of AA publications. These lessons deliver effective directives on how to change thinking and how to get rid of destructive behaviors.
• In addition to AA lessons, you will have access to studies produced by the Hazelden Foundation. This non-profit has been working with destructive behaviors since 1954 and is an excellent resource for individual self-directed therapy.
• Some correctional entities wish to include Thinking Errors lessons and a package of lessons is available for our use.
• Another critical treatment element included in the 5 Step syllabus, are exercises in meditation. Meditation benefits are indisputable but there are very few of us folks who can spare the few minutes it takes.  Youtube meditations may become a friend.
• Note on therapy lessons: At most facilities, the tools used for group lessons and therapy are stored – “in house”.  The skills of the group facilitators and the availability of content affect the quality of these on-site sessions.

We have turned meaningful content into form and PDF documents.  These lessons include questions that are completed after reading the lessons.  We have found that these processes provide more knowledge retention than traditional group sessions.  Obviously, these web-based, downloadable, tools are convenient and comprehensive – fitting our real world needs.

Based on your input during registration, other resources will be made available that will guide you through other learning and therapy experiences.  Resources for Local vocational, health, financial and legal assistance will also be provided

As you move through the steps of the iMR program, your participation will be monitored.  These computerized reports will insure that you are completing the “doable” tasks that you committed to – during the Intervention.  Our experience has shown that when individuals are responsible positive results can be expected.  Our processes do insure that irresponsible actions result in immediate accountability.

Your treatment TEAM members are supporting your treatment efforts and will be responsible for completing their tasks.  Communications between TEAM members will be continuous and will support your treatment efforts. There are no “voids” in communications – it is continuous.

Don’t worry!  We’re Educated!  We’ve got things under control!

 A few other treatment comments:

DSM-5 (Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Counselors)

Research conclusions pertaining to addictions and relative behaviors are as varied as the government and medical entities producing them.  Medical professionals and mental health professionals have published documents that do not agree on the origin of some destructive behaviors. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual) indicates that a collection of disorders is responsible for destructive behaviors.  This American Psychiatric Association publication includes 279 disorders that may relate to our needs.  The experience and skills of the professionals determine how to best treat destructive behaviors.  The role of personal “traumas” also influences treatment modalities and adds to the analysis tasks each professional must complete.

Most insurance payments are based on DSM codes and our Compu-Tools software computes DSM-5 criteria.  Many state agencies require that treatment processes adhere to ASAM criteria.  With varying elements, adhering to these two guidelines can get a little difficult.  Compu-Tools also provide quantitative diagnosis of ASAM Criteria.  Provided with this information, professionals can assist their clients using the tools that fit their specific needs.

ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine)

iMR adapted the ASAM criteria for its processes.  This maintains addiction is a “disease” – not a result of a psychological disorder.

Public Policy Statement: Definition of Addiction

Short Definition of Addiction:

Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

An illustration that supports our ASAM focus is:

Bill Wilson – one of AA’s founders could not stop smoking during his 37 years of alcohol sobriety.  Here is a guy who was able to overcome one addiction; but, not another.  It would be interesting to know what disorders the DSM-5 would focus one, when one addiction is managed and another is not.

This brings up another topic worth discussing.  Giving up one life destroying drug and continuing to use another life destroying drug is not rational.  We encourage our TEAM members to support behaviors that are positive and beneficial to continued good health.  My sister and my AA co-sponsor both bought into AA philosophies and stopped the use of alcohol and drugs; however, they both continued to smoke and it, probably, killed them a decade or two before old age would have got them.

The affect of “Vaping” on the human body will require new government studies: however, it doesn’t seem rational that sucking vapors into our lungs is really a constructive behavior.  Seems like meditation and exercise might be better for our health.

The 5 Step program includes lessons on thinking habits, behaviors, wellness or health, exercise, meditation and other topics that are not part of AA.

I’ve never been to a bad meeting!  It’s a matter of perspective!