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Most Boozers Sober Up Without AA

70% moderate the drinking on their own, 1% are true alcoholics

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 16, 2009 8:08 AM CST
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(Newser) – Most people who hit the bottle too heavily lay off the booze long before they ever have to stand up and say, "My name is Bill W and I'm an alcoholic." Shooting down conventional wisdom that climbing up on the wagon and staying there was the only way to curb alcohol problems, new research suggests that most people with drinking problems moderate their habits without becoming teetotalers. A survey of 43,000 taken over the past decade found that 30% of Americans have had an alcohol-use disorder, but that 70% regained control without treatment.

Only 1% suffered from recurring alcoholism. "It can be a chronic, relapsing disease. But it isn't usually that," says one expert. Others agree: “For a long time there was an emphasis on alcoholism as if it were one thing,” a USC psychology professor tells the LA Times. But “people with alcohol-related problems don't all look the same. Some people only have problems for a short time. Others develop disorders that are ultimately fatal to them."

Bottles of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey are on display at a Kansas City, Mo. liquor store in a file photo from May 24, 2005.
Bottles of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey are on display at a Kansas City, Mo. liquor store in a file photo from May 24, 2005.   (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
This photo taken May 20, 2009 shows three glasses of different types of Jack Daniel's whiskey sit ready for a taste test at the distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn.
This photo taken May 20, 2009 shows three glasses of different types of Jack Daniel's whiskey sit ready for a taste test at the distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn.   (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
sanagalrc
Nov 16, 2009 8:02 AM CST
A company that treats alcohol/drug abusers is going to see a much higher percentage of true alcoholics than a random survey of 43,000 people. Probably at least 90% of the people who are treated by those centers and that doctor are real alcoholics who actually need to go to AA.
RCAnder
Nov 16, 2009 6:30 AM CST
If it worked for you mamawhale...more power to it.
mamawhale
Nov 16, 2009 5:50 AM CST
That is a common misconception. You dont actually "submit" yourself you just have to become willing and most drunks come to AA desperate for help. And, as I said, it works if you work it; you just have to be willling. I was a low bottom drunk - meaning drinking caused a lot of major problems in my life - thank god I never killed anyone or lost my life due to my alcoholism. It took a long time before I would even think of trusting some 'higher power" to keep me sober. But eventually I did and for me (and thousands and thoudans of people just like me) it worked.

 
alcoholism • alcohol abuse • Alcoholics Anonymous • alcoholic

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