Opinion- Is AA The Only Way? Expanding Recovery Options

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In Oklahoma, we have different types of recovery groups for those suffering from substance abuse issues or problems. The dominant belief is the person dealing with these issues suffers a disease of the mind. The belief is a person will suffer from this disease for the rest of their lives.

The most widely known substance abuse program is Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous is a 12-step program and requires a belief in a higher power. Although many claim it is not a religious program, a critical literature reading could lead one to believe otherwise. The courts have also affirmed that, in a legal context, AA is, in fact, a religious program. Many people do not hold the same beliefs in God as others, and this can be a detractor for some people suffering from substance abuse issues.

Other religious recovery programs exist, such as Celebrate Recovery. If you were to read the participants' manual, it would be very similar to the Alcoholics Anonymous program. We could go on at length listing the many religious programs based on the 12 steps and Christianity. And if a Christian program is working for someone, I support them!

Diverging from the disease model- I believe substance abuse is a learned behavior. Many other academics would disagree with me, which is fine because I am not trying to change your beliefs! I think it could be beneficial to offer secular-based recovery options to people suffering who may have different religious and medical views than us. It is also crucial to share those options and not work other people's programs. Considering the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, we need all options available on deck.

Smart Recovery is an alternative program that offers meetings online and in person, but the only location is Edmond, Oklahoma. We need a program in our community to offer options to those seeking alternatives. What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. Smart Recovery is grounded in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, the predecessor to CBT, but very similar.

Participants can order workbooks, and therapists and facilitators can order manuals for group exercises. The program can be worked by yourself with a workbook, with a facilitator, or more intensively with a clinician.

Other secular programs include SOS (Save Ourselves), Rational Recovery, and Liftering Recovery. There are many more, but smart recovery is known internationally and is NIDA-approved.

Smart Recovery is the easiest program to offer in our community. It could be incorporated as an alternative in drug treatment programs and through a therapist or Behavior Health Case Manager. Using a Behavioral Health Case manager to facilitate groups could reduce the cost of offering these services and even replace some of the outdated Moral Reconation Therapy curriculums in use today.

I want to also bring to light that our rehabs do not offer alternatives either. I tried to facilitate drug treatment for an individual who was willing to go to treatment but not if they did not have an alternative to AA. I ended up finding the nearest facility in Texas at the time.

We need to consider having alternatives because, at the end of the day, we are trying to help people reduce or abstain from substance abuse leading to criminality.

One component I like about AA is Peer support. I suggest that anyone beginning a program offer a peer support component but not require it. I acknowledge Smart Recovery lacks this.

One component I do not like about AA is labeling people as addicts. Working in prisons, I tried to help people re-shape their self-perceptions. If you call yourself a convict every day, you likely visualize yourself in the same way. I would tell them you are human, not a convict, felon, robber, etc. A person may have committed a crime, but they are not that crime. I believe if you keep calling yourself powerless or an addict, that is what you will bring into existence. People need to see themselves positively.

However, as I said before, whatever works for the individual, I support it because your program is not about me, and we need to stay within our own hula hoops (boundaries).

Shad Hagan, M.S., B.S.