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NEWS > HEALTH > ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TO INTRODUCE 8 STEP PROGRAM
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TO INTRODUCE 8 STEP PROGRAM
January 27 2009
New York, NY – in 1934 Bill Wilson changed the face of alcoholism forever. With the founding of ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ and the twelve step program he invented, thousands have been cured of debilitating addiction. That twelve step program has become synonymous with self help, be it addiction to alcohol, cigarettes, pornography, and even anger. Now the organization has decided to change the program with which they so effectively changed the lives of thousands.
“Starting today, Alcoholics Anonymous centres worldwide will be switching to an eight step program. We feel that this change will not only make our program accessible to more people, but also make for a more concentrated experience for those in need,” said a spokesperson for the organization, who preferred to be known only as Edward. “By streamlining our process we believe that more people will seek help, and by intensifying the nature of the program, we are hoping for a more lasting result for those who make it through the program. Those people already enrolled in twelve step programs will continue, but all new enrolees will start with the new program.”
The new version of the program will consolidate a number of the steps which some have come to see as redundant. The steps have remained largely unchanged since their establishment 75 years ago.
“Our goal remains to aid people in finding their true selves and freeing themselves from the prison of addiction. Our vision has not changed nor will it,” continued the spokesperson. This refined program will only open up the opportunities for thousands more to seek that freedom for themselves.”
While meeting with a lot of success, the concept of the twelve step program has come under fire in recent years with many describing it as either ineffective or successful only in the short term. The new version of the program has only sharpened that criticism. 
“Twelve steps are a great marketing tool but the actual effectiveness of the program is questionable at best. Studies have shown that people engaging in traditional therapy for addiction tend to stay clean at a much higher rate and for much longer periods of time. The reliance on programs such as this can actually be detrimental to the long term health of addicts,” said Doctor Nathaniel Walker of the National Addiction and Research Counsel. “People are told they will have success with these programs and they expect it, but what happens most often is a short term fix and a large waste of money. People would be better off spending their time and money in proven programs, not gimmicky programs promising immediate results. You have success in anything through hard work and effort, not through standing in a circle and complaining about your problems. This new program is as much a cash grab as any other and people shouldn’t be fooled into believing they will have miraculous success.”
Alcoholics Anonymous declined to comment on whether or not the reduction in the program had anything to do with the current economic climate throughout the world.
“While they aren’t willing to admit it, the truth is enrolment has gone done over the last few months and that has them worried just like any other business,” said Scrape TV business analyst Ken Green. “They haven’t released the cost of the new program but it’s likely they are going for a quantity of quality solution. The reality is that as the economy gets worse, the number of alcoholics is likely to rise but they need to position themselves to capitalize on that addiction. I would expect to see a surge in numbers once the recession fades out. By then people will be well into addiction and have the money to seek help.”
It is also believed that part of the decision for the new program is the increasing number of youth alcoholics.
“Younger people quite often have a shorter attention span, given the nature of the world they live in now, and AA needs to adapt in order to survive,” continued Green. “From what I’ve heard, the powers that be in the organization just don’t believe that young people have the ability to commit for a full twelve steps. They believe that eight is a more reasonable number. They also believe that the program is less effective with the reduced number of steps. Of course if that’s true all it means is one thing: Repeat business.”
Due to anonymous nature of the program, the details of the new steps were not released.
Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent
NEWS > HEALTH > ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TO INTRODUCE 8 STEP PROGRAM
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