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I recently received this email from a UK addictions
worker:
‘Stanton, I was in a public health meeting today (well I
was until I walked out). The government focus is
currently all about facilitating 12-step engagement. I
tried to make some kind of stand, and the only
progress made was to get an acknowledgement that
where people are persuaded to reduce mental health
meds, life may be put at risk, and they wanted cases
of this to be reported. I pointed out that 12-step
fellowships do not work like this or have a reporting
structure to facilitate this, but was brushed aside.
Anyway, I don’t have an ability to work through
research or writing on the matter, so I wondered if
you have produced a clear (not too long) summary of
the potential harms of the 12-step approach with
some handy and convincing figures that I can use as
part of my rearguard action. I dare say you are busy,
but anything would help. Thanks, A.’
Here is my response for people in situations like A.
Many Europeans are aware that we in the United
States, home of American exceptionalism, tend to go
it on our own, and expect the rest of the world to
follow. Understandably, in recent years, Europe has
become wary of following us blindly in our overseas
adventures (like the invasion of Iraq), the
consequences of which haven’t been good, or
certainly what we claimed they would be. Instead,
many European nations prefer to develop their own
policies steeped in their own national traditions and
values. Good for you!
But the exception to this self-assertion lately has
been in the area of alcoholism and addiction. After
decades of not rushing down the American route
(which is 75 years old) of Alcoholics Anonymous, the
12 steps, and perpetual abstinence as the best –
the only – approach to use in the treatment of
alcoholism and addiction, a number of European
countries have been moving steadily in the 12-step
direction (including, as in the quoted mail above, the
UK). They are often pushed in this direction by the
US rehab industry (called the Minnesota Model),
which has a roving group of consultants/lobbyists.
This shift is unwise and contrary to Europe’s and
addicts’ best interests.
That the UK and other countries are coming gung-
ho now is particularly puzzling for these reasons:
1.
The US has often been criticised for its decades-
long delay in implementing clean needle
programmes, which led to a second wave of HIV
infections among IV drug users in the US (primarily
minorities) – a public health disaster avoided in the
UK, Australia, and virtually all other Western
European and Commonwealth nations. Even today, as
every public health body in the US and the rest of
the world strongly endorses provision of clean
8 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| April 2014
Cover story |
Recovery
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
‘We’re doing so well with
addiction in the US, we’re
going to convert Europe.’
Stanton Peele
challenges
the received wisdom of
the 12-step approach
A STEP TOO FAR?