Originally Posted by kevmartin

I do know the program, but the difference is in what we believe the program to be, which in turn is the very reason I found it not to be the solutions for me. Your response is correct according to the concepts of the steps programs, but this is where I think they are, when it all boils down to it, about avoiding the real issue rather than dealing with it, by 'surrendering to a higher power', 'acknowledging we are powerless against our addiction'. As I said earlier, that's fine (indeed great) for those for whom it works and enables them to lead a life they are happy with. But for me personally it would be false to go that way when I do not believe it to be ultimately true. In fact I suspect it might not even work for me at all because of the fact I don't really believe in it. It would be like going to church to pray each week when you don't believe in God - meaningless without genuine faith.

To me, I do not have a medical/incurable condition called addiction, which is being managed through abstinence. I had a behavioral issue which led to a temporary condition of addiction etc. If I should ever choose to go back to that (I can't see it happening but one should never say never really) then it would be my choice, and mine alone - I would be responsible for it and only I could deal with it.

Also, the occasional times I do have a drink, I really don't do it for the alcohol 'high' anyway. On a hot day, there is no drink more refreshing than a very cold beer (once you have acquired the taste for it). I tried 'socially drinking' (alone) a few years ago, where the point of it did involve the alcoholic effect, and frankly it wasn't the least bit interesting any more. There's half a bottle of vodka in the freezer left over from that experiment, which will most likely never get drunk (perhaps I'll eventually think of a use in cooking for it).