A.A.? No Way! Alternatives to the status quo programs that fail Charles Delaney pot

A.A.? No Way!
(Alternatives to the status quo programs that fail)
Charles Delaney
Copyright 2012 by Charles Delaney
Smashwords Edition
Prologue
Alright, I'm sure someone will take exception to my negative view of A.A. and it's clones, such
as NA/CA/EA/SA/etc. But let me say I see nothing at all wrong with the idea of it. However the
application is one of the most horrid ones I've ever seen. Any contact I've had with A.A.'s have
been almost exclusively negative. As a group A.A.'s are closed minded and willfully ignorant
because the organization has a classic cult mentality. My first serious contact with the
organization was when I went seeking information on addiction. Now, years later, I'm still
waiting for them to produce some. They'd rather think holding hands while chanting the Barney
Song and grabbing their ankles for Jesus is the cure for their woes. As such I went seeking the
information elsewhere. What I found was at odds with the organization's 19
th
century imaginings,
mainly because it was based in 21
st
century research. When I brought this information back to the
organization the reactions of the A.A. members were negative. The information was disregarded
and I was censored, screamed at, even threatened verbally and physically. As such I tried to
bring this information to folks independently. Unfortunately, being a lone person, I couldn't
reach far enough or to enough folks that it might benefit. So I'm trying this e-book in the hopes
it'll reach more folks than I could otherwise. What follows is the distillation of my research as
well as personal observations. Am I an expert on the topic? Anything but! I'm just an ordinary
cuss that cannot sit idly by when there might be the chance to help someone. Especially when the
alternative is causing more harm than good. A.A. has a 95% failure rate while other programs,
such as Rational Recovery, can have a far higher percentage. Even going it completely alone
grants a success rate twice that of A.A. Yes, the group cuts one's chances in half. That's called
harming people and I cannot abide with that without trying to offset it if I can!

You'll notice this is also free. I see no reason to profit in any way on someone's misery. Take
this information and see if it fits for your situation. If it does, use it. If not, it's cost you nothing.
If you disagree with any of this I invite you to do the research to refute that. If there's an error
that I've missed I want to know about it so I can correct it! Feel free to contact me at
for anything relating to this topic. Now get to reading the rest of this and
see if it can help someone.
Table of Contents
Why People Drop Out
2
nd
Opinion Recovery Pamphlet
Satori Sobriety
AAsimilation
Pagan View of the 12 Steps
Theologian Commentaries on the 12 Steps
Asatruar 9-Steps
The Solitary's Steps
A.Q.
A.Q. II
Of the “Rational Recovery” program
* * * * * * *
Harvard University: Why People Drop Out of AA
According to AA's 1989 Triennial Membership Survey 5% of newcomers continue past the
first year, 50% drop out within 30 days. Here is why:
ABSTRACT:
(1992) Ceane Willis, Ph.D., and David Gastfriend, M.D., "Alternatives in Self-Help: Reasons for
Discontinuation of AA by Problem Drinkers," Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General
Hospital) analysis of 223 questionnaires submitted by readers of a Rational Recovery book, The
Small Book. 89% were abstinent, 89% were AA dropouts for the following reasons: religious
content (51%), were unhelped (18%), social conflict (16%), powerlessness idea (12%),

lifelong dependency on AA (19%), mistreated in the program (7%), depressing (15%). 39%
held mainstream religious beliefs.
This was probably the first serious inquiry into the recidivism that characterizes the recovery
group movement. The group typically interprets rejection of the 12-step program as symptoms of
addictive disease, i.e., "in denial," "just want's to drink some more," "angry," "dry drunk,"
"constitutionally incapable," "a poor unfortunate," or explained away with, "Some are sicker than
others." When people leave AA, as the large majority do, it is with the grim prediction that they
will inevitably drink self-destructively and disintegrate. The thousands who call Rational
Recovery, however, do not present the lack of motivation or other pathology attributed by the
recovery group. Indeed, when they got fed up and left AA, they continued seeking a solution to
the problem by contacting RR. Very significantly, they were not on a downward trajectory, but
upward bound. In this limited study of self-selected respondents, 89% were abstinent. Coupled
with the fact that 95% of AA newcomers drop out within one year, 50% within 30 days, we can
see that the prospects for recovery are greatly improved by dissociating from addiction
recovery groups and accepting personal responsibility for permanent abstinence. Whatever
positive outcomes the recovery group movement reports, they are dwarfed by the success of
individuals who recover on their own.
The 95% first-year dropout rate is bothersome to many who doubt that such figures exist.
Alas, they were obtained from AA's 1989 Triennial Membership Survey. The 1996 TMS
flyer, however, makes no mention of membership attrition. Interestingly, the only requirement
for membership in AA is set forth, " the desire to stop drinking." While the desire to stop is
very important, the desire to quit seems more suited to the vexing problem of alcohol or drug
addiction. Anyone can stop, but stop signs rarely result in the end of a journey.
* * * * * * *
2nd Opinion Recovery
Let's get right to the point. If you're one of the 5% that AA and it's clones (NA, CA, SA, etc.)
helps, put this down and leave it for one of the 95% that those programs have failed. If you're
one of those 95% and are still struggling with your particular problem, give a listen. What's there
to lose but the time reading this?
The basic idea of those programs are the best of ideas. Unfortunately they're put to the worst of

applications. Standard "AA based" recovery programs set most people up for failure for several
big reasons. One is the basic lie that it's a "spiritual program" when it's really a christian religious
program that uses christian prayers, terms, and philosophy. That philosophy encourages a feeling
of "powerlessness" and removing personal responsibility (because you need God to cure all your
ills). That way when the person relapses it's because they're not responsible, they were
"powerless" over their problem. That's a basic negative self imagery that any first year psych
student would recognize and know fosters failure. Compound that with a program that rejects
21st century research findings in favor of intuitive imaginings that are 7+ decades out of date.
Finally, the programs foster a "cower in the corner" mindset of constantly going to meetings,
where these negatives are reinforced, rather than learning the tools and habits that could bring
things under control.
So what's 2nd Opinion? Just that, a 2nd opinion. It's not a program, rather it's a place to find
information and maybe some ideas that might work for someone struggling with their particular
problem. Part research findings, so the person has real information to work with. Such as proven
basic behavior modification techniques anyone can do. Part morality/philosophy, for such things
CAN help some people as they work their way through to a solution. And, finally, part
community, for so many problems start with someone feeling left out and trying to fill that
emptiness. Also, community lets you know that you are not alone in this!
Although this is being brought to the pagan community primarily, this is for EVERYONE in
need with no restrictions. It's not a “spiritual program” like the rest, no one will preach at you.
It's for everyone that's been to a standard AA style meeting and thought it a pile of BS. It's for
everyone that's still looking for well a 2nd opinion!
One more thing, there's no failures. There is only the failure to try. To try a 2nd opinion, start
with below:

* * * * * * *
AA - Satori Sobriety
First, a quick FYI so all understand the term "satori". It's a zen term that refers to the "flash
insight" that's a primary goal of the practitioner of that path. It's where logic fails and the mind
makes an intuitive leap to solve the puzzle faced with. The term is used very purposely here

because AA does the same thing with sobriety. Unfortunately "satori" almost always requires
being in an extreme mental state to attain, even then success is not a sure bet by any means. Such
can explain why all speakers at an AA meeting are only extreme "crash and burn" cases rather
than the average person with a drinking problem who relapses 90+% of the time because there's
less relevance for them.
This is not to say AA is a bad thing, it's not. But it is insufficient for many when it doesn't have
to be. Part of that insufficiency is that it's still using concepts that are 70 years old and do not
take into account new information that has surfaced. The intuitive approach of the past covered
the basic problem without really knowing why. Without knowing the "why" it's a lot harder to
solve the "why nots", if not impossible. Modern research is starting to uncover the reason for the
"whys" and, far more importantly, the why of the "why nots". This information could be used to
augment AA's effectiveness tremendously so many more could be helped.
Examples? I thought you'd never ask
In AA's "Big Book", the venerable boozer's bible, it cites that good intent isn't enough. It cites
examples of people who had the fullest and truest intent to stop drinking, then turned right
around for no apparent reason and got totally trashed. Well, there is a reason. But the intuitive
"satori" method can't do it. It took modern research and even MRI brain scans to start to shed
light on such things.
There's several things that happen which sets the wrong behavior in motion. The first is the
triggering stimuli, such as a visual image, happens very quickly. It's measured in milliseconds
and under the level of conscious awareness. This means the person doesn't even know things
have begun. The next thing is that the triggering stimuli reaches the more primitive part of the
brain that functions instinctively and much faster than the part of the brain that deals with
conscious decision making. If something triggers the instinctual part of the brain things can be
off and running before the conscious part of the brain has a chance to put the brakes on. Guess
what happens in addictive personalities? Yep, the addictive substances have overridden the
instinctual part of the brain, sometimes being 5 times stronger than what the brain is was meant
to respond to, such as food, danger, sex, etc. So when the trigger come along the instincts kick in
and off the person goes on the wrong road. It also explains the extreme, and often "insane",
behaviors an addict will have to make sure their need for the drug is met. Without something to

break this cycle, once established, the only hope for some will be the "satori sobriety" intuitive
way.
Fortunately modern research is also starting to provide answers to this dilemma. There are some
drugs that have been found that are able to suppress the the runaway activity of the instinctual
part of the brain, allowing the cognitive brain a chance to get it's say in what's going on. Drugs of
this type, teamed with behavior modification techniques, can let a person change their lives
around for the better. Best of all is that the sooner a person gets into such a program the easier
and better the recovery will be. There's no reason to wait for the "satori sobriety" with all the
misery and bother that comes from that path.
AA could play a major role in such a regime because it is a large established support group
based on the idea of not drinking. By it's very existence it's a behavior modification program and
a place one can learn the new habits needed to bring things under control.
Who know? Perhaps if something like this gets instituted someday the normal speaker at an AA
meeting will start with "I'm John Doe, and I'm just an ordinary cuss "
* * * * * * *
AAssimilation
Ever wonder why people in AA, or any other recovery program for that matter, all being clones
of AA, all sound alike? They say the same things in the same way over and over like a broken
record. Like someone in a cult. Well, AA is decidedly cult-like, but that's a different discussion.
The question here is "why?". What's going on that causes this? At first I personally was at a loss
to discover the reason. That was until I came across an article in Discovery magazine that was
covering some of the latest research findings that deal with the brain and memory. It seems
there's a very interesting process that goes on in the brain that AA inadvertently uses. It may be
considered a form of brain-washing, if you want to call it that, but it would be more accurate to it
being a re-writing of the brain's memories.
When it comes to memories being stored in the brain, they tend to be very durable. Short of some
notable physical damage a person's memories aren't going anywhere for the whole of their lives.
As long as they remain stored. That's the catch, a memory that's called up from storage is no
longer in it's stable storage. Just like a computer, the brain can call up a file (memory) for
updating. When it does that the memory is no longer stable, it can be re-written updated and

then gets put back into stable storage. It's during that unstable time that, done correctly, a
memory can be completely re-written to bear no relation to the original memory and the brain
will treat it as if it was the original memory. It will be real to the brain. THAT is what's
happening in A.A.!
If you go to an AA meeting where someone is doing a "lead", telling their tale of woe and
redemption, the people listening are calling up their own similar memories and identifying with
the speaker. In the process they're also calling up their memories into that unstable update mode
and re-writing them with components from the speaker's tale. As this goes on continuously in
AA, the constant repetition leads to a group consensus to the "reality" of things. AA's become
carbon copies of each other. Anyone not showing the proper mindset is treated like any other
outsider to a group structure negatively until such time as the errant person can be brought into
line with the group-mind's view of things. That's why new people are required to attend meeting
after meeting until they are sufficiently re-programmed. Those that are resistant to this process,
for whatever reason, are considered combative or in denial. Since few that come into the
program have sufficiently strong senses of self, having twisted themselves up through substance
abuse, some will eventually submit. Though the more likely result, rejecting the brain re-write
due to finding the whole static group-mind as moronic, is what happens +90% of the time. Many
unfortunately go back to abusing, for they have not been given an adequate alternative.
What of those that have the lone wolf's strong sense of self? That is a truly interesting situation.
Assuming the person is sincere in finding something that helps them control their problem, and
finding the group-mind too limited in scope, thus ineffective, they will look outside the box that
is the group-mind. Unfortunately the AA confronted with such a person is not equipt to deal with
this dynamic situation and will listen to the group-mind's static decree for such, that the person is
combative/in denial because they will not accept the group-mind. Were AA a proper religion
instead of a "spiritual program" the eventual result would be similar to Catholicism's (another
static group-mind) excommunication. Ejection from meetings, even threats of physical
violence, have been the result for those that have blasphemed by speaking beyond the accepted
script of the group-mind.
Is there a solution to this? Probably not. The debate between the One and the Many has been
going on since our species came down from the trees, if not before (and likely it was some

“maniac/heretic” that first dropped out of the branches). Any individual that steps off the
accepted straight and narrow is going to be ostracized by the group, and because most people
prefer the comfort zone and safety of a group and will submit and not stray from it. But every
innovation has come from that “insane” person that wandered away and said "Gee, I wonder
what's over there?" As mentioned earlier, likely we came down from the trees due to a similar
looney. So the One then serves the Many, whether either likes it or not.
* * * * * * *
Pagans and the 12 steps
If you have a problem getting help/helped can be a tricky thing even when all things line up well.
It gets harder when the problem, in this case drinking, is compounded with differences. The
primary stumbling block here in this case is being a pagan and the most widely accepted
program, AA, is decidedly christian. The problem goes deeper than terms, trapping, and how
differing faiths do the Hokey Pokey during a service. There are intrinsic differences that, if not
accounted for, can magnify other points of difference and increase the chance of failure. So what
to do? Sometimes the best way to learn is to open mouth and insert foot. It brings misconceptions
quickly to light and, if it turns out instead to be a valid point, it can be made quickly as well. In
either case learning happens. So let me polish up my size 11 so it slides in easier:
"But AA isn't christian!" Oh really? Maybe not in direct intent, but it is in direct default. The one
founder of AA was connected with the christian fundamentalist Oxford Group. Meetings begin
with the christian Serenity Prayer. Meetings end with the christian Lord's Prayer. When a
specific term is used for the "higher power" it's the christian "God". Not "Allah", "Yahweh",
"Elvis", or "Micheal Jackson". It's the very christian term for the Big-Dude-Up-There. I've
known Christians who have left AA because they got sick of the religion getting shoved down
their throats. Thus I rest my case on this matter and await a 2nd opinion, knowing that not all
groups are created equal and thus some will be truly ecumenical.
The religious default shows up again in the 12 Steps, which are decidedly christian in
philosophy. As such this might chafe for a Jew, or Muslim, even though their faiths sprung from
the same monotheistic sources as Christians. So how much greater is the gap going to be for a
follower of the older polytheistic faiths of wicca ("witchcraft"), asatru (norse), and, in my case,
the Celtic pantheon. Not all require the same level or type of submission from their followers as

does Christianity. And pagans, who have been persecuted for centuries by various christian sects,
are a bit more sensitive about entering into anything seen as being in that faith's backyard. Thus
the message and potential benefits of AA can get lost in the dogmatic defaults.
Examples? Okay. Slowly we'll turn, Step by Step
1) We admit we're powerless over alcohol
BUNK!!! That might cut it for a christian , where it's taught one can't get into Heaven without
help from the Big Dude. But, if one is truly powerless, then there is no choice, chance, or hope
for the person. They're doomed before they even get started, so they may as well make advanced
reservations for their gutter down on Skid Row now and avoid the rush.
In contrast my path says I'm anything but powerless. I may be completely over my head and
totally outgunned, but I still have the power of choice, even if I don't use it.
2) Come to believe in a higher power that could restore us to sanity.
I suppose this is a bigger deal to a Christian, who's god tends to be viewed as being off
somewhere far away. For pagans this is less of a step, almost a redundancy. That's because the
average pagan already has a close working relationship with the Powers they follow. And
working closely with said Powers certainly let's one know what They are capable of doing.
3) Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of Big Dude
Again, acceptable to a christian mindset. Grab the ankles for The Big Dude. But other paths can
prefer followers to retain a spine. Thus it is with the Goddess I serve. That "Aulde Bytche" has
no use for weaklings or suck ups. So I know what would happen if I approached Her with the
"I'm weak, hopeless, helpless, and need Your aid!" routine. I'll get snatched up by the scruff and
told in no uncertain terms I better get to what I can do, or She'll put a boot up to the hip in my
butt! And that's okay because the Powers run things and we're just hick mortals. But that doesn't
let us off the hook. Even hick mortals have their part to play if things are to work out right in this
world.
4) Made a searching, fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
A once a week suck up and counting a few beads just doesn't cut it for a lot of pagans. Not when
we're taught that all things are interwoven 24/7's. Also any of us that have directly dealt with the
Powers learned real fast just where we stand. So we have to take a hard and humbling look at
ourselves? Been there, done that. It's still not an easy or pleasant process, but then morality isn't a

casual thing for those that have it.
5) Admit to Big Dude/ourselves/another our wrongs.
There is considerable value to this step. A process used for millennia to ease the moral burden
and clear the way to start anew. So why then half-step and make the admission to a stranger,
such as a priest, you'll not have to deal with again? It let's one off the hook and lessens the
potential benefits. If you're that worries about how someone will react, don't even bother with
this. So who have I admitted to? A person who would normally rarely want to see one's feet of
clay. My daughter. I'm not allowed the luxury of half-steps.
6) Entirely ready to have Big Dude remove these defects.
7) Humbly ask Big Dude to remove our shortcomings.
These two are lumped together because equally ridiculous for the same reasons. Who wouldn't
want Mommy to kiss it and make it better?! Or have someone wave the magic wand, say the
magic word, and presto chango we're okay?! Or pop the miracle pill of the day and cure all our
woes?! (Viva Viagra!) That again is the christian "we're hopeless and need Big Dude to save our
butts" mindset. And isn't such a bailout just one more enabling behavior that helped get us in the
sling in the first place? Pagans know the Powers didn't get us in this mess, so shouldn't expect a
bailout that would cheat us of our moral responsibility. They'll help ease the path, maybe, but we
must walk though that tempering fire ourselves or we'll learn nothing of true worth.
8) Make a list of the people we have harmed
Redundant. How can one truly do Step 4 and not do this?!
9) Make direct amends wherever possible
To my Celtic ancestors one's place in society was defined by their actions. To act dishonorably
or immorally within one's place and responsibilities was to risk dire consequences from all. To
be dishonored was worse than death, one ceased to ever have been. Thus any wrong has to be
corrected. The dane-geld, or honor-price, must be paid. It'd be so much easier to balance the
books at death like Christians sometimes do.
10) Continue to take personal inventory, when we were wrong promptly admit to it.
Even if you got Step 4 100% right the first time, that was then. This is now. The cycles of the
world continue to turn with no two seasons being exactly alike. There is no happy ever after and
there's always something new to be done.

11) Sought through prayer/meditation to improve our conscious contact with Big Dude
If it's a long distance call to your deity, this makes sense. But, as said before, pagans tend to
naturally have a closer contact with their respective Powers. And it's not "conscious", it's
"innate". That's because it becomes as natural as breathing. Another nigh on redundant step for a
pagan.
12) we try to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in our daily
affairs.
Another variance and near redundancy since belief, morality, and action are interwoven on the
pagan path. There's no reason to evangelize either. It doesn't work with pagans anyway since
we're more a confederation than anything else in our interactions. If our example appeals to
another, we share our knowledge freely. Otherwise we leave others to pursue their own paths.
They might have something to teach us in doing so.
* * * * * * *
Theologian Commentaries
Anyone that knows me knows I'm not likely to accept something just because someone tells me
it's "truth". I prefer a bit of objective confirmation, especially if it's something important. I
consider the recovery movement as something important, far too important to leave in the hands
of the mindless Barney Song chanters in the cults, like AA, that have sprung up in the name of
"helping" those afflicted. As such I did some digging on my own. One of those excavations was
to seek out the fellow that wrote the commentary below. Over the years I've had many a
stimulating conversation on spiritual matters with him. An ordained bishop with a degree in
theology he knows his stuff. Add to that his study and practice of Christianity is based in early
doctrine similar to what AA's spiritual mid-wife, Oxford Group, was attempting to revive. It
shouldn't be a great stretch of the brain to see he was someone to consult when I wrote my pagan
commentary on the 12 Steps which, like everything in AA, is steeped in contemporary christian
viewpoints. If there was anyone that would spot any errors I made, and tell me about it, it would
be him. So just what did he say? Read on:

"Sorry to ramble, but I find Step 1 a 'cop out' from a Christian point of view. Powerless? If one
were powerless no change would be possible. Yes, I share your conclusion. It is like a splash of

cold water in the face to read how far American Christianity has departed from Christianity. That
is why I left even the Roman Catholic church of my upbringing. AA would not be a place where
I could find help if I needed it since it's view of humanity and Soteriology is so seriously flawed.
Sadly, I can think of no alternative at present.
The 12 Steps also present issues from an early/Orthodox christian perspective. Primarily, there is
a complete ignorance of SYNERGY. That is not a 'new age' idea but an ancient postulate that
each of us has to cooperate with God. That does not mean we get dragged or carried to our goal:
Salvation (health of Soul and Body) and eventual Theosis (cooperation to the point of union
without loss of person). We have to work, labor in union with God's energies. To say that we are
powerless is to say we have no free will and no ability to choose the 'right' and choose to work
with God for our own improvement. Yes, Christians say that without God, we can do nothing.
But with Him we still 'DO' and 'CHOOSE'. We don't yell 'You drive!' Yes, we, surrender, but
that means we recognize that we have to be right-minded in our choices and actions. It is not the
surrender of Islam where we just dump everything on God and He becomes responsible for our
actions."
* * * * * * *
A 9-Step Recovery for Asatru/Odinists
by Laurel Owens
1) Admit we have a problem with addiction and that we have used our personal power unwisely
and destructively.
Noble Virtue: TRUTH.
I stand at the Well of Wyrd, and peering within, I see that addiction is poisoning my fate.
2) Make a decision to align ourselves with the Gods and to contribute constructively to the
Tapestry of Wyrd.
Noble Virtue: COURAGE.
I call out to the Gods for need-fire, and wisdom, to overcome that which is destroying me.
3) Inventory our behavior patterns in a searching and fearless way.
Noble Virtue: HONOR.
Guided by the might and main of the Gods, I drink deep from the well of my deeds, and take
responsibility for that I find there.

4) Admit to the Gods, to another human being, and to ourselves the exact nature of our wrong
choices.
Noble Virtue: FIDELITY.
Holding honesty as my honor, I stand before the Gods, my ancestors, and a trusted companion,
and lay forth the poison I found within.
5) Ask the Gods to help us change our destructive behavior.
Noble Virtue: INDUSTRIOUSNESS.
Having awakened to who I have been, I choose to lay healthy actions into the Well of Wyrd,
with the Gods at my side, so I may live with honor and luck in the future.
6) Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.
Noble Virtue: DISCIPLINE.
Having honestly and completely shared the poison of my past, I choose to attempt to make right
what I have made wrong in the past.
7) Make direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure
them or others.
Noble Virtue: HOSPITALITY.
Realizing that I must let go of who I have been, I hang myself from Yggdrassil, dying to who I
was, and beseech the Gods for the Runes of victory. I reach out a hand to people I have hurt, if
it's appropriate.
8) Continue on a daily basis to take personal inventory and when we are wrong admit it.
Noble Virtue: PERSEVERENCE.
Having gained the Runes over addiction, I continue to live with meaning, as genuinely as I can,
day to day, always remembering that wisdom not lived is a sword not drawn.
9) With the spiritual awakening as a result of the steps, we try to carry this message to others,
and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Noble Virtue: SELF-RELIANCE.
Having awoken to the rich heritage of the Gods of my ancestors, and my own constructive
power, I go forward in my life to share this spiritual awakening with others, knowing that to gift
(Gebo) this awakening is the best way to retain it.
* * * * * * *

The Solitary's Steps
There came a point, when someone challenged my methods, that I found I had to quantify my
general way of doing things to better explain myself. That way also is relevant here as well. As
such I've included it for consideration.
Your can not change the past.
You can change the future.
Forgive yourself, but do not forget.
Keep your honor, as opposed to pride, intact.
The world will disrupt your plans, simply because it is bigger than you are
so have a "Plan B" for when, not if, it happens.
You are the best con man that will ever fool you.
* * * * * * *
A. Q.
This is a rambling quest for knowledge based on what might be unrelated things. Then again,
maybe not. So let's ramble a bit.
If you go to an AA/NA/CA/etc type of meeting you'll eventually hear a re-occurring thing. That
there's a high percentage of highly intelligent, even genius level, people within the group.
Really? Why would that be? To my knowledge there's not been a study citing this. So where
does this come from?
The simplest explanation is compensation. Everyone wants to feel special. So what if you're
devoting your life to killing braincells wholesale? You've got boatloads more than the average
sot anyway.
There's a joke that's related to the above, sort of, that propounds that drinking actually makes you
smarter, in the same way a predator improves the total heath of a herd by killing off the
weak/sick members. Less accurate, to be sure, but far more entertaining.
Now, if indeed there's a link between higher IQ's and things like alcoholism, it begs the question
"Why?". The simplest answer might just be boredom with all the rest of us dummies. Sort of
along the lines of an "album" of music a friend and I once made, entitled "We Sound Better
When You're Drunk"
Another possibility is there could be an intrinsic difference in those with high IQ's that leaves

them more vulnerable to alcohol. One theory I've heard states that if more than 20 IQ points
separates two people they will have trouble communicating. This is not due to brain processing
speed, rather due to a basic difference in functioning and frames of reference. Given that about
85% of alkys/addicts show abnormal brain patterns, there could be something to this. That is if
there's enough of a sampling of brain activity BEFORE becoming addicted exists to look for a
possible link of some kind.
Finally there's also the possibility that the alcoholic isn't any smarter than anyone else, but they
ARE using a greater percentage of their brain's potential than the average person. Very likely this
is due to the drive to fulfill their addictive cravings. This might be the most intriguing of all the
possibilities cited. Because it means there's a chance to find a way to unlock more of our
potential, if there's a way to figure out how to do it without being addicted to something.
All the above is just speculation and could be complete bunk. But it still sounds just plausible
enough to consider taking a look, if no one has already. So, anyone care to don a Sherlock
Holme's hat, pipe, and magnifying glass to find out what percent the solution is?
A.Q. Part Two
Brain scans reveal striking similarities in the thought pathways of highly creative people and
those with schizophrenia. Both groups lack important receptors used to filter and direct thought.
It could be this uninhibited processing that allows creative people to "think outside the box", say
experts from Sweden's Karolinska Institute. In some people, it leads to mental illness. But rather
than a clear division, experts suspect a continuum, with some people having psychotic traits but
few negative symptoms.
Art and suffering
Some of the world's leading artists, writers and theorists have also had mental illnesses - the
Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh and American mathematician John Nash (portrayed by Russell
Crowe in the film “A Beautiful Mind”) to name just two. Creativity is known to be associated
with an increased risk of depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The thalamus channels thoughts
Similarly, people who have mental illness in their family have a higher chance of being creative.
Associate Professor Fredrik Ullen believes his findings could help explain why. He looked at the
brain's dopamine (D2) receptor genes which experts believe govern divergent thought. He found

highly creative people who did well on tests of divergent thought had a lower than expected
density of D2 receptors in the thalamus - as do people with schizophrenia. The thalamus serves
as a relay center, filtering information before it reaches areas of the cortex, which is responsible,
amongst other things, for cognition and reasoning. "Fewer D2 receptors in the thalamus probably
means a lower degree of signal filtering, and thus a higher flow of information from the
thalamus," said Professor Ullen.
Mark Millard UK psychologist
He believes it is this barrage of uncensored information that ignites the creative spark. This
would explain how highly creative people manage to see unusual connections in problem-solving
situations that other people miss. Schizophrenics share this same ability to make novel
associations. But in schizophrenia, it results in bizarre and disturbing thoughts. UK psychologist
and member of the British Psychological Society Mark Millard said the overlap with mental
illness might explain the motivation and determination creative people share. "Creativity is
uncomfortable. It is their dissatisfaction with the present that drives them on to make changes.
"Creative people, like those with psychotic illnesses, tend to see the world differently to most.
It's like looking at a shattered mirror. They see the world in a fractured way. "There is no sense
of conventional limitations and you can see this in their work. Take Salvador Dali, for example.
He certainly saw the world differently and behaved in a way that some people perceived as very
odd." He said businesses have already recognized and capitalized on this knowledge.
Some companies have "skunk works" - secure, secret laboratories for their highly creative staff
where they can freely experiment without disrupting the daily business.
Chartered psychologist Gary Fitzgibbon says an ability to "suspend disbelief" is one way of
looking at creativity. "When you suspend disbelief you are prepared to believe anything and this
opens up the scope for seeing more possibilities. Creativity is certainly about not being
constrained by rules or accepting the restrictions that society places on us. Of course the more
people break the rules, the more likely they are to be perceived as 'mentally ill'." He works as an
executive coach helping people to be more creative in their problem solving behaviour and
thinking styles. "The result is typically a significant rise in their well being, so as opposed to
creativity being associated with mental illness it becomes associated with good mental health."

When the original A.Q. missive was written the information above hadn't showed up yet. It does
seem to suggest there's a link between mental disorder and creativity. Whether this includes
addictive behaviors can't be inferred from above. However, if there IS a link, it would explain
why AA based programs have such a dismal success rate. That's because creative (intelligent)
people that innately "think outside the box" will naturally chaff at anything as restrictive as AA.
Powerlessness doesn't cut it for someone used to looking for options, for powerlessness means
zero options. The blatant Christianity of the program (which, as practiced today, especially in the
program, is restrictive) would also rub the wrong way. Certainly the dependency of staying
cooped up in constant meetings is seen as limiting. Any of these reasons are enough to make the
intelligent/creative/motivated person to say "Nope, I'm trying something that works."
* * * * * * *
Of the "Rational Recovery" Program
Given a choice between AA and the Rational Recovery program it's a no brainer which to go
with, RR. That's because it's based in valid science and not something better suited to the
Victorian Darwin trials. Science one then, science wins again here. The core of the RR program
is the branch to psychology known as behaviorism, or behavior modification. The basic idea of
behavior modification is to reward the wanted behavior while "punish"/not reward the unwanted
behavior. The great thing about behavior mod is it can be a do it yourself routine, no counselors,
lab coats, or shrinks required. In fact the RR program IS meant for the individual to do by
themselves. How effective is it? It claims a 90% success rate as opposed to AA's dismal 5%.
There's only two things I don't like about RR. First it's so busy trying to rationalize and validate
itself against AA. It's AA that should be trying to validate itself against actual science and
results! The other things is the books and such are a bit of a rip if you order them. RR pulls that
"shipping and handling" gouging routine which is something I highly disapprove of. That's
because any textbook on behavioral psychology will give you the same basic information to arm
yourself with. Again, given a choice between working through a textbook of perhaps dry
information or sitting through yet another depressing and repetitive AA meeting that will only
teach you to fail, if it teaches anything at all, pick up textbook! The first reward of that is the
satisfaction of actually doing and accomplishing. Take a little pride in yourself because you just
earned it. Now don't think it's going to be all peaches and cream, you ARE going to have to put

an effort out to succeed. But after that first step it gets easier because you've overcome the
mental inertia. Remember the only failure is the failure to try. Give it a try, what's there to lose?
Worse case, you fail to try, and so go back to depressing AA and/or become a nice little guilt-
ridden Catholic where you can just blob out without any effort at all. The choices are ever yours,
no matter what someone else says to the contrary.
Another very good source to tap is the book "Psycho-Cybernetics". First published in the 1960's
it might be the only self help book that lives up to the name. Like behavior modification the
basic idea is simple. The brain is an organic computer and has all the needed sub-routines
already built in to accomplish whatever goal you set it to. All it needs is the goal that you
provide, then the brain starts working out the nuts and bolts of it. The nice things about the book
is it's still being published with a non-profit organization doing this. I like non-profit when it
comes to something like recovery, for there's too many carrion eaters feeding on the misery with
too many being court decreed when someone is sent off to re-hab/AA. If you're lucky you might
spot a copy of the book in a thrift store, in which case someone's trash just became your treasure
at a bargain price.
So there you have it, more choices and chances than you're likely to hear elsewhere. The rest is
up to you. Just remember you are NOT powerless! You are NOT a failure! There's only one
person that's ever lived on this planet of ours that can stop you from doing what you want to
do that is you alone. So what will it be? More of the same or something grander? Personally I
think you deserve a grander time after what you've paid in already, so go for it!