AA “unethical” says SMART recovery founder

~ Jason Schwartz
I saw this article yesterday and chose not to comment, but now that PeaPod has, I’ll join his chorus. I had a similar reaction. I was disappointed in two things:

  • It’s too bad that this person can’t just promote Smart Recovery as an alternative without bashing AA.
  • The author adopted the critics language, presenting it as fact without context.
Oh well. It’s nothing new and it won’t be the last time. I recognize that people in twelve step recovery can be just as judgmental. More recovery is a good thing. Too bad we can’t all just get along.
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Published by Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I currently serve as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care for a healthcare system. I've also served as the Director of Behavioral Health at another hospital. I'm also a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.

4 thoughts on “AA “unethical” says SMART recovery founder”

  1. I agree, why can't we all just get along? I guess it is like religion and politics. My way or the highway. It doesn't matter that my experiences are different or what works for me may not work for another.

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  2. I knew a Minister who had been a skid row drunk until Jesus spoke to him one day, and it changed his life. He was very sincere, and I believe his experience. But I am not going to tell any addict or alcoholic to get sober by going down to skid row and waiting for Jesus to show up. There are as many paths as there addicts. In the beginning, walk one that works. Something better comes along, walk that path as well.

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  3. Dr. Gerstein was misquoted by the Guardian, and was not referring to AA when he said that. There has been a correction posted by the Guardian.Dr. Gerstein was responding to the reporter's question about coersion by the courts into one method or another with no choice of which method to use.http://bit.ly/c53WqR

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  4. Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "AA “unethical” says SMART recovery founder": Dr. Gerstein was misquoted by the Guardian, and was not referring to AA when he said that. There has been a correction posted by the Guardian.Dr. Gerstein was responding to the reporter's question about coersion by the courts into one method or another with no choice of which method to use.http://bit.ly/c53WqR

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