WE'RE STILL IN THE DARK AGES OF ADDICTION MEDICINE

My experience with Alcoholics Anonymous and addiction medicine differs
drastically from Dr. Donald Hedges (Tried-and-true treatments best hope for
alcoholics, Letter of the Day, June 29).

I am a compulsive drinker, have been addicted to a benzodiazepine (Ativan)
and have recently been involved with addiction medicine.

My first addiction specialist died prematurely (either suicide or an
overdose). My second addiction specialist told me that I am "biologically
unable to tolerate benzodiazepine withdrawal."

I have since stopped taking Ativan on my own and, after the initial
horrendous physical withdrawal, find it fairly easy to maintain abstinence.

My observation of AA is that it uses thought reform techniques. People show
up in a vulnerable state, having lost jobs and/or families and are often in
physical withdrawal. They are met with slogans, chants and repetition:
"Ninety meetings in 90 days," "Easy Does It," "Keep it Simple," "Surrender"
- -- just be careful what it is you're surrendering.

Participants are expected to sit in a group, analyzing in public about "how
I was," "'how I changed" and "how I am now."

There is no doubt that some extreme cases call for extreme measures -- even
lobotomies have their place, I suppose.

But, in my view, the end does not justify the means. I believe we are in
the Dark Ages regarding addiction medicine and in the future we will see
new medications to help people who are obsessive-compulsive about substance
use.

Meanwhile, we should examine AA very carefully before we start uncritically
applauding its benefits and even forcing people to attend through court orders.

Cathy Rankin

Coquitlam