Addiction Is a Choice [Hardcover]

For those people with substance abuse problems who cannot buy into the "disease model" promoted by AA and most recovery institutions, this book is welcome relief! To be held accountable for one's own actions (as any OTHER adult is in this society!) is a GOOD thing! While AA may be helping some people recover, there are plenty more who don't "resonate" with AA teachings and beliefs, and for addicts and alcoholics to reclaim the power to abstain, after professing "powerlessness" in 12-Step meetings, is a blessing indeed!

When I actually read the book however, I was disappointed on several levels. I will try to give some examples.

Accuracy - On page 63/64, Schaler refers to a book published by AA and lists it's title as "The Big Book." This is not the title of the book. It's real title is "Alcoholics Anonymous." "The Big Book" is what it is euphemistically referred to by AA members, but it is not it's name. It really caused me to be quite skeptical of many of the other details in the book.

Non-truths - Also on page 63, Schaler states the requirements of joining AA and lists these as admitting weakness and inadequacy, and acceptance of a life dependent on a power greater than ones own self. This is just simply not true. In the preamble read at almost every AA meeting, is the tenant "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." An AA member is free to reject the disease model of addiction, any belief in a higher power, and even the 12 steps if he so choses and these beliefs will not jeopardize his membership in AA.

A bias against AA - On page 129, Schaler states "It's only by talking about their problems-in-living and encouraging them to confront and solve those problems-in-living that the drug use subsides." That sounds to me like a good description of what AA meetings are and do. Schaler neglects to give credit to AA for providing this service (virtually for free) to the general population.

Stating the obvious - On page 84, Schaler uses a quote, I assume because it says what he is trying to get across, and in the quote it states that the expressing of views opposite to the groups model of treatment is discouraged in AA. For an example of one of these opposite views, the authors use the "concept of controlled drinking." Well, no kidding! If the membership of AA is contingent upon a desire to stop drinking (as stated above), then it's a little naive to think that they would want to entertain the "concept of controlled drinking." After all, I would never go to a Chevrolet enthusiasts group and expect to be warmly welcomed if I were to start talking about my wonderful Ford. This is hardly scholarly material.

Poor logic - One spot (sorry, I failed to note it and cannot find it at the moment), compares alcoholism to diabetes and makes the point that if you take insulin away from a diabetic, they get sicker but if you take alcohol away from an alcoholic, they get healthier. This is misleading logic. A more accurate comparison would be to compare taking away insulin with the taking away of whatever it is that is allowing the "alcoholic" to choose something other than his alcohol addiction.

All in all, it seemed to me that Schaler had broader goals for this book than just proving that addiction was a choice and not a disease. Spending much time talking about his views on civil liberties and comparing drugs to religion only watered down what little actual meat I found there. This book provided entertainment for me but that's about it. I don't consider a real scholarly work.

Doug