Comments on: The Myth of Hitting Bottom

By: Jack McInroy, Ed.D.

Jack McInroy, Ed.D. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:29:54 +0000

I agree with most everything written in this article. I may add John Fleming, a well know psychiatrist believes its malpractice to not treat addictions with psychotropic medications. This is considered ridiculous by the treatment counselors who continue to tell everyone the only way to remain sober is the 12 steps and 90 in 90. Chad Emrick, Ph.D. has done the first scientific study on the effectiveness on AA and found approximately 34% of those who go to AA and do the 12 steps are successful. If a surgeon gave you those odds on a procedure would you proceed? I wouldn’t. It’s beyond time for addiction treatment to be individualized and scientific principles applied. We need to get rid of the folk lore and faith based treatments.

By: Jeni

Jeni — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:36:48 +0000

I actually believe that alcohol starts out as a choice but becomes a disease.. Sure, it’s not a type of disease like cancer, but it in my mind is a disease once someone takes up the habit. Hitting bottom is definetly a myth because by then, alcoholics are more than likely to weak or so low they don’t even want to or know how to seek help

By: Kelsi

Kelsi — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:35:07 +0000

Hitting bottom seems to me that it is too late. Hitting bottom for some people may mean depression that they can’t overcome or even suicide because they are tired of it. This article sets it straight.

By: Mary Ellen and Ed

Mary Ellen and Ed — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:39:14 +0000

We have no arguement with that – and many people successfully answer that wake up call, whether from the doctor, judge, spouse, employer or other person capable of making a point.

The other point is remembering that alcohol abuse is a choice, not some mysterious malady. It’s a lot easier (though not at all easy) to deliver that wake up call if you’re no longer being confused about her or his alcohol use.
It’s a CHOICE!

That said, don’t forget that you too can make choices. Don’t be held hostage by a “disease” or “the Program” or any of the other alcohol fixations abusers use to avoid intimacy and a real life…

By: Faye

Faye — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:03:31 +0000

Don’t think that people necessarily have to hit that mythological bottom but I do think that there are times when people need a real wake up call to get them out of their stupor and to realize that they need to make some real changes in their lives.

By: Lea

Lea — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:06:10 +0000

Very good article on the myths. Maybe this will put some perspectives out there for others who need help before its too late.

By: Mary Ellen and Ed

Mary Ellen and Ed — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:14:59 +0000

Sad to say, some people make that choice. Though I have never actually met anyone who didn’t know what they were doing. Admit it? No. But we all know what we’re doing unless we are either severly limited in ability or actually mentally ill. With alcohol abuse, either of these conditions is exceedingly rare.

Our sympathy to you and your family.

By: Clark

Clark — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:31 +0000

Unfortunately my dad never even realized hs boat was sinking even after the rest of us had jumped ship. He went down with it and never made it back.

By: Mary Ellen and Ed

Mary Ellen and Ed — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:25:34 +0000

You have stated precisely the problem with all AA/12 Step based mythology that actively supports NOT being responsible for one’s behavior.

“I can’t help it,” they whine, “I’m the powerless victim of a disease.”

It’s a wonderful way to keep on being totally irresponsible while holding everyone else hostage.

But you don’t have to let that happen. Alcohol abuse is a choice, not a disease, and choices can be unmade or changed.

If the drunk has elected to have their primary relationship with their bottle, you can choose to stop being a bit part player in their life and refocus your life around yourself and living healthily, happily, and productively.

You can never force someone else to change, grow up, clean up, or anything else. But you’re not required to go down the drain with them.

Sometime realizing that others are leaving their sinking ship encourages the alcohol abuser to change, but there are no guarentees.

Please, take care of yourself.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Residential programs only make things harder for those who go there because they shield you from the real world and do not do an effective job at making you face the stressors that may cause you to drink and do drugs in the first place. Treatment should come in the real world, not take you away from it all. I agree with the therapists who wrote this article that no wonder those who go through residential treatment facilities continue to fail- they never are taught how to deal with the issues that got them there in the first place. I think that this kind of abuse is just like anything else. Until you are ready to face head on the things that scare and stress you there is no way you are going to get to the point where you can successfully overcome them.

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:08:08 +0000

My husband is an alcoholic. OUr family and friends have failed to get him to therapy for it. Even when we dont hold them responsible for it and try to coax them they dont want to get it over with. How does one get the horse to the water by saying they are not a victim and responsible for their alcohol abuse?

By: Mary Ellen & Ed

Mary Ellen & Ed — Sun, 31 May 2009 05:44:46 +0000

With regard to residential programs, the problem is that they insulate clients from the realities of home leaving people even more vulnerable when they return – hence the 95% post preatment relapse rate.

The other problem we have is in the use of the term “victim” which falsely absolves clients from their responsibility for their behaviors, and therefore their recovery.

Alcohol abuse is, after all, a choice. Recognizing that also frees people to make the choice to do something else. Responsibility equals power equals success as every bit of research demonstrates.

Your point is well taken, but supportive training can more effectively, and affordably, be done in an intensive out-patient setting where clients aren’t simply fed filler in place of actual treatment.

By: George

George — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:37:03 +0000

I am glad to read an article like this that actually blows away so many myths. However, I would say one thing in favour of a rehab clinic. When we go back to the environnemt for ex: our homes while receiving therapy, the temptation to get back to the bad habit happens more easily. a rehab centre helps by channelising energies and in relaxing the mind. It also helps by teaching the victim to stay distracted from giving in to addiction.

By: Pauline

Pauline — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:45:18 +0000

There is hope that someone will take action before they hurt someone else in the process.

By: Mary Ellen and Ed

Mary Ellen and Ed — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:53:10 +0000

While it’s always dangerous to generalize from ourselves, I also have the after-the-fact reports of a lot of clients over the years. Most agree with my experience of knowing full well what we were doing without ever admitting it to anyone else. I think real denial is much over-reported and is simply an excuse for not doing anything to fix the problem.

Granted, there are people who are so emotionally infantile that their problems escape them, but they aren’t all that common and are fairly easy to recognize.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:05:13 +0000

But don’t you think that in some way people with addiction issues do not realize they have a problem until they hit proverbial problem?

By: Eliza

Eliza — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:11:33 +0000

I so agree with everything here! Waiting until you hit bottom to seek treatment is like waiting for the end to arrive before you even start thinking about the ways that you can change your life. You are hurting a whole lot of people in the process of waiting to hit bottom before seeking treatment including yourself. Wise up and get the help you need while you can still make a difference in your life and those of others around you. If you wait too long it may be too late to make those amends that AA and other 12 step programs are always encouraging you to make.