ADDICTS ARTICLE ELICITS CRITICISM AND PRAISE

I appreciated much of Alicia Priest's "Middle Class Addicts". Anything to
cut through the haze and BS that surrounds addiction in our culture is welcome.

I was disappointed, however, that so much of the article was spent bashing
12-step programs. I can imagine that some might find that 12-step groups
like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous don't help them. But so
many other people have found their way to sobriety through these groups
that it seems grossly unfair to rag on them so much.

I myself suffer from an addiction (behavioural, not chemical, but there's
not really much difference). And I have found the 12-step approach
invaluable in my struggle against my demons. For example, I've considered
myself a Christian for more than 20 years, but I never really understood
the concept of faith until I pondered step two of the 12.

I know many alcoholics, drug addicts, and other addicts who have also been
helped a great deal by the 12 steps. I know many addicts who swear they
would not be sober without the 12 steps.

I just wish the author had spoken to more of them, so that the article
would have been fairer and more balanced.

Robert Slaven
Surrey