By Howard Wetsman MD: For More Info, Go Here…

ngd- In the early ’80s, I saw and read a document, maybe 20 pages long on yellow-orange paper, from Bill W. about medical, cultural, nutritional, and dietary supports to support the recovery of sobriety.  It was fascinating and secret because AA doesn’t support any particular treatment for alcoholism or other addictions except mutual support.  Much of what was in that report (mostly a summary of the research and individual experience) would hold up well today. I always thought it was a shame that the report wasn’t generally available. The author of this post talks about many of the things in that report from a current perspective. Well worth a read…

I’m caught in the middle. As a recovering person who has learned how to effectively use step work, some of my colleagues tell me that the program should play no role in addiction treatment. As a doctor who uses medicine in treating addiction, I often hear quotes from Bill or the book to counter my use of medications. When I’m explaining medication to a patient or family that have been told medicine is no good for addiction, I often find myself wishing that Bill Wilson was in the room with me. I imagine I could just lean over and say, “Bill, what do you think of that?” And his, “That makes sense, Howard. I wish we had that to help people with when I was around,” would convince the patient. It would be much easier. But Bill’s dead, so I have to do all the work myself.

Bill never stopped looking for biological aids for people with addiction.

LSD

Niacin

WWBD?

Bill wouldn’t be in today’s argument of whether meds are good for people with addiction or not. He’d be asking which people with addiction need meds and which don’t, and how will we know? For those that do he’d be asking which they need in what order with what others and for how long. All questions not seriously being asked today. That’s because our treatment system is built on what Bill did 70 years ago, not what he’d do today.