The "12 steps" are a load of shit

[y0ssarianlives]

This is long, but worth a read if you are considering getting treatment.

Alright a few months ago I went to one of the supposedly "top of the line" rehab centers in the US. They charged like... $35,000, which my insurance covered. I think my insurance company got ripped off.

I'm an agnostic, and realized the second day I was there that the whole program was based around indocrinating the ideas that an individual can do NOTHING to stop their use, and the only thing that will do this is a sudden spiritual awakening leading to a belief in a higher power. While working with the steps was the only time they used the phrase "higher power", during all the prayers they made us do, and all the readings they had us read, there was no qualms about using the term "God".

Here's my problems with this "program". To assume that the human idea of a "higher power" actually applies to reality outside the confines of our minds, is a rash display of egotism. The universe/existance doesn't give a fuck about how badly we want our heirarchical patterns of thought to have any significance outside the context of humanity, and it was this idea which lead me to being an agnostic in the first place. So, they were asking me to through 19 years of careful thought out the window, and leap on the higher power bandwagon.

Next is the false assumption that people are not responsible for their actions, and as such, cannot control their actions. This is a clear case of most rehab centers being too cheap to do actual research into more modern and effective methods of treatment. There is a new school of thought as far as drug treatment goes, called "Cognative Therapy". It analyzes the thought process which leads up to the decision to use, and teaches you how to modify this into healthy decision making. Statistically, this form of treatment has a much higher success rate. And it places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the user, it doesn't let them cop out to a higher power.

So, we have cognative therapy, which empowers the user, doesn't label them an addict for life (which the 12 step program DOES do), and gives them the sense of satisfaction that THEy are actively changing their life for the better. Or we have 12 step therapy, which doesn't use science or research in the treatment proccess, doesn't allow for differing faiths, brands the person as an addict for life, and takes away the satisfaction of knowing that THEY have control over whether they use or not. And is based on a 80 year old program created by a man who believed god was the only solution to, well, just about any dilemma someone faced.

In conclusion, unless you are a person of faith, don't go to a 12 step based program. I still cannot believe they charged that much for pretty much telling me to find a higher power, and have faith that the higher power would keep me from using. Lame as all fuck.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Exccellent post, I agreee totally. Amen :-)