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<blockquote data-quote="DaisyFace" data-source="post: 552750" data-attributes="member: 6546"><p>I read an interesting book lately and it contained a chapter about the success of the AA program. According to the book (and for the life of me I cannot remember the title), the success of AA has nothing to do with religion, or specialized knowledge, or even the "12 steps" in particular. The program succeeds because most human beings are two things: social animals and creatures of habit.</p><p></p><p>Usually, people who drink or abuse drugs do it with others who also drink and/or use drugs. Most people were introduced to drugs or alcohol by a friend or family member. Drinking and using therefore has a social aspect to it. We don't use the term "peer pressure" when we speak of adults - but it is a form of peer pressure, nonetheless. When our peers are drinking, smoking, getting high - we want to be included.</p><p></p><p>Also - like it or not - we all like to stay in a comfortable rut. Habit is easy. We don't think about it. Therefore, if we always have a cigarette with dinner, and now we want to quit smoking - we don't just have to break the addiction to nicotine - we have to break the habit of smoking with dinner. The habit is part of the addiction.</p><p></p><p>The success of AA is due to the two-step process of introducing the addict to a new social circle - PLUS introducing a new habit to replace the act of drinking or getting high. If one attends regular meetings - the social pressure of fitting into the group is a good tool to reinforce sobriety. Additionally - the "buddy system" gives the addict a partner to call when in crisis instead of turning to drugs or alcohol.</p><p></p><p>This is the same idea with programs like Weight Watchers. They support you with a group of like-minded people and suggest alternatives to poor dietary choices and stress-eating.</p><p></p><p>Obviously - if someone is not very social, or does not feel they have anything in common with others in the AA group - then this two-step system will not work for them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DaisyFace, post: 552750, member: 6546"] I read an interesting book lately and it contained a chapter about the success of the AA program. According to the book (and for the life of me I cannot remember the title), the success of AA has nothing to do with religion, or specialized knowledge, or even the "12 steps" in particular. The program succeeds because most human beings are two things: social animals and creatures of habit. Usually, people who drink or abuse drugs do it with others who also drink and/or use drugs. Most people were introduced to drugs or alcohol by a friend or family member. Drinking and using therefore has a social aspect to it. We don't use the term "peer pressure" when we speak of adults - but it is a form of peer pressure, nonetheless. When our peers are drinking, smoking, getting high - we want to be included. Also - like it or not - we all like to stay in a comfortable rut. Habit is easy. We don't think about it. Therefore, if we always have a cigarette with dinner, and now we want to quit smoking - we don't just have to break the addiction to nicotine - we have to break the habit of smoking with dinner. The habit is part of the addiction. The success of AA is due to the two-step process of introducing the addict to a new social circle - PLUS introducing a new habit to replace the act of drinking or getting high. If one attends regular meetings - the social pressure of fitting into the group is a good tool to reinforce sobriety. Additionally - the "buddy system" gives the addict a partner to call when in crisis instead of turning to drugs or alcohol. This is the same idea with programs like Weight Watchers. They support you with a group of like-minded people and suggest alternatives to poor dietary choices and stress-eating. Obviously - if someone is not very social, or does not feel they have anything in common with others in the AA group - then this two-step system will not work for them. [/QUOTE]
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