People in Iran seek a humanistic republic based upon the philosophy of humanism and humanistic economy. I have been active for decades to reduce religious fundamentalism and theocracy inside Iran. I firmly believe that one the paths to economic growth is complete freedom from religion and respect for humanistic values in Iran or elsewhere.

Quote of the Month:

"What makes a free thinker is not his beliefs, but the way in which he holds them. If he holds them because his elders told him they were true when he was young, or if he holds them because if he did not he would be unhappy, his thought is not free; but if he holds them because, after careful thought, he finds the balance of evidence in their favor, then his thought is free, however odd his conclusions may seem."

Bertrand Russell

his title emanates from my contention that there are many wide spread myths in our society that have become deeply ingrained in the fabric of Americana. One such institution is Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) which has become an icon among American institutions. Even as a graduate student in psychology, I was told that both physicians and psychologists need not treat alcoholics because AA was the treatment of choice.

I have come to doubt this truism because of my deep professional and personal interest in the area of alcohol abuse, which has resulted in my reading many studies, publications and scholarly works on the subject. My latest excursion into this area was the recent Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) Conference which is one of several options to AA that have been developing slowly in recent years.

Among some of the options to AA besides SOS are Rational Recovery, SMART, and some "moderation clinics," such as a top flight one at the University of Washington. The renewed interest in moderation drinking was sparked by a tragic incident involving Audrey Kishline who wrote a book on Moderation Management. It was called Moderate Drinking: The New Option for Problem Drinkers.

Kishline, while legally intoxicated, drove the wrong way on a Washington State Highway and created an accident that killed two people. Besides the original news item in the LA Times, the LA Times later wrote an article by an obvious AA disciple. It is full of AA platitudes and a typical exposition of AA dogma which is all anecdotal and while it is pretty prose, it is terrible science! Another article in Time magazine which while not as obviously biased for the AA dogma, the last paragraph reads "Alcoholics in recovery have tried moderation. Kishline’s tragedy shows (such attempts) don’t work." While not going into the particulars of this case, this statement does not follow scientifically. There have been numerous studies that support moderation management but none were cited in any of the media’s coverage.

There is hope, however. A recent and unexpected breakthrough was Peter Jennings 20/20 hour-long program, which exposed millions of viewers to true experts in the field, some of whom see AA as a cult-like organization. Another area in the behavioral sciences that has come into question through research is "grief counseling." This does not only happen in the behavioral sciences. Look at the controversies about global warming and the efficacy of a missile defense system. The individuals’ interpretation of the "facts" often reflect an individual’s political and world view attitudes.

The main point from my perspective as a psychologist is that we generally should ask, "What is the evidence." More specifically,

Many scholars think that scientific literacy in America is at an all time low. Institutions such as AA, which eschews research, help promote this trend. I believe humanists, skeptics, rationalists, etc. should take the lead in helping the media present their "scientific facts" with greater accuracy and validity. So before you believe a given "scientific" version of the facts in the media or in everyday conversation, you are well served to ask yourself "What EXACTLY is the evidence?"

Some Alternatives to the 12 Step model

In the Jan./Feb. 2000 issue of "The Humanist" there is an excellent article by Michael J. Lamanski titled "Addiction Alternatives for Recovery". Lamanski makes the following criticisms about AA and its numerous offspring such as Gamblers Anonymous, Workaholics Anonymous, etc.

"The AA model characterizes addiction as a progressive, chronic, and ultimately fatal disease that leaves the addict "powerless," experiencing a "loss of control" in the ability to refrain from a drug of choice. The model requires a commitment to total abstinence, the embrace of spirituality, and life-long participation in AA or another twelve-step program, because addiction is defined as treatable but never entirely curable."

"For decades there has been strong resistance to developing alternative programs because, in the first place, a majority of treatment providers, themselves, have been recovering twelve-step addicts and, secondly, those who have opposed the one-size-fits-all dogma have been viewed as heretics. A. Thomas Horvath, president of the American Psychological Association’s Division on Addictions, estimates that today more than 93 percent of U.S. treatment centers are still locked into the AA approach."

Many people with drinking problems are hypoglycemic (75%), which can cause depression and many are suffering from malnutrition caused to varying degrees by their alcohol consumption. AA refuses to acknowledge that these might be factors that should be treated.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety, 5521 Grosvenor Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, (310) 821-8430, www.secularhumanism.org/sos. Founded by James Christopher in 1986 as a non-religious program based on self-empowerment and cognitive therapy. If you are interested Christopher has written books on his theories. Unfortunately Christopher buys into the dubious disease model. Membership is free.

Rational Recovery Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 800, Lotus, CA 95651, (800) 303-cure, www.rational.org/recovery/. This is the AHA program that doesn't view addiction as forever. Founded in 1986 by Jack and Lois Trimpey, RR is based on the work of psychologist Albert Ellis. For more information rear Jack Trimpey's book "Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction".

DrinkWise, Univ. of Michigan Health System, P.O. Box 435, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, (734) 998-WISE. This organization commits the heresy of saying that a lot of people with drinking problems can through thoughtful behavior modification solve their problem by simply drinking occasionally. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of statistical evidence to show what percentage of people could have drinking problems but don't because they modify their behavior. We do know that most people who drink aren't addicted, the way nicotine is addictive. Studies do show that a lot of the people who reduce their drinking go on to quit altogether. There was a representative from DrinkWise on a recent Larry King show debating this subject with several 12 step advocates. They said his ideas were dangerous and irresponsible, and that he would be ruining people's lives because they made the mistake of listening to him. Another organization along this line is Moderation Management Network at www.moderation.org.

A major problem with AA, and other 12 step programs, is one of public perception that is formed largely through anecdotal evidence. Nearly everyone knows someone who had a drinking problem and went to AA and now they don't drink anymore. When a person only goes to one or two meetings it is they who are blamed, not AA for being a less than perfect program. These people who either quit on their own, moderate on their own, or go to a couple of AA meetings and decide they will quit or moderate instead of going through an AA program that doesn't make sense to them, don't seem to be accounted for by the media. In fact, AA has become a holy cow that acclaims success without providing scientific evidence, or in depth studies. If you are critical of AA in any way people often respond with something like, "I (or someone they know) knew a guy who would be dead (or living in the gutter) if he hadn't gone to AA. Aside from the public's common knowledge perception that alcoholism is a disease and the 12 step method is the best way to deal with it; there is little media attention to the comparative success of alternative treatment methods. The 12 step notion that we are helpless to solve our behavioral problems without the help of supernatural forces is the most serious flaw in their program and is a major reason 12 step programs are not more effective.

All About Love

A group of professionals posed the question "What does love mean?" to a group of 4 — 8 year—olds.

"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."