| (The
following is in response to the article written by
Tom Croke entitled "12 Step/Whole Child Programs"
(Woodbury Reports, Issue #23, August, 1993)
In response to your article,
"12-Step/Whole Child Programs," in your Aug. 1993 issue,
I'd like to say...
Counselors and Program
Managers, Be Wary.
When offering 12-Step programs,
be sure to make it optional to your students (clients).
Allow those who do not like the 12-Step approach to
choose something else--for instance, another method
for achieving spirituality such as religion or another
method of social interaction such as group therapy.
In other words, do not
make the 12-Step model mandatory.
Reason #1: The 12-Step
model has a low success rate. A.A.'s own triennial survey
of its membership shows an 11% success rate after two
years.
Reason #2: Analysis of
A.A.'s membership shows that it's comprised primarily
of middle-aged, white males. It does not attract many
teenagers, blacks, females, or older adults. There are
numerous reasons for this written in different books
and articles (see for instance the book, Alcoholics
Anonymous: Cult or Cure?, by Charles Bufe).
Reason #3: The 12-Step
model can be dangerous for young adults. Seven of the
12 Steps have us making a moral correction in our lives.
These are, briefly: making a moral inventory, admitting
our wrongs, asking God to remove our wrongs, and our
shortcomings, making a list of persons we had harmed,
making amends to these people, and admitting on a continuing
basis whenever we have done wrong. These steps can be
severe on teens who tend to feel too much guilt as it
is. Indeed, at least one teenage suicide that occurred
in Minneapolis has been directly related to the 12-Steps.
The teen, who had been in A.A. and sober for two months,
left a note listing his defects of character and the
persons he had harmed. It apparently had overwhelmed
him. Of course, suicide has been well-documented as
a cause of death among active alcoholics and drug abusers
but it is also a risk-factor in recovery, particularly
in early recovery when depression can be severe and
persistent.
If you can print this,
thanks. I feel that this information is crucial to anyone
concerned about successful programming for Whole Child
Programs.
-Jerry Dorsman, Elk
Mills, Maryland, 410-392-9685.
(Jerry is the author of the book, How to Quit Drinking
Without A.A., which describes a whole person approach
to recovery). |
