EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE QUARTERLY

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE QUARTERLY
Vol. 1(1), Fall 1985

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Third Edition (1976). New York. Alcoholics Anonymous.

If there is a published review of Alcoholics Anonymous, maybe better known as the Big Book, the editorial staff of the Quarterly has not been able to locate it. To compensate for its absence from the literature, we approached three outstanding professionals in the field of addictive behaviors and posed this task: review the Big Book. Addressing the task are Albert Ellis, Ph. D., internationally renowned psychologist and founder of Rational-Emotive Therapy; Alan Marlatt, Ph.D., Director of Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington; and Abraham Twerski, M.D., Medical Director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center (near Pittsburgh) and author of "Kindness Can Be Dangerous to the Alcoholic"

Each reviewer was asked to organize his review of the Big Book around the following questions:

- In light of current professional views of alcoholism, is the Big Book still appropriate in understanding the nature of the alcoholism and/or other addictive behaviors?

- Does the Big Book provide an adequate explanation of alcoholism recovery?

- Is the therapeutic approach to alcoholism, as depicted in this text, consistent with contemporary efforts to treating addictive behaviors like alcoholism?

- Does this text adequately reflect how Alcoholics Anonymous and other self-help groups currently practice?

- In your opinion, does the Big Book represent an effective therapeutic model for alcoholism and/or other addictive behaviors?

Dr. Ellis' review, which was extrapolated from his other paper, "Why Alcoholics Anonymous Is Probably Doing Itself and Alcoholics More Harm Than Good By Its Insistence on a Higher Power," chose only to address the last question regarding the Big Book as an effective therapeutic model for alcoholism/addictive behaviors. He did so in a rational and logical manner. Dr. Marlatt, in his paper entitled "Is Reliance Upon a Higher Power Incompatible With Learning Skills?" arranged a general but scholarly response to all of the questions. In an effort of resolution, he drew parallels between social scientific and Alcoholics Anonymous approaches to understanding alcoholism and recovery Dr. Twerski complied with all the questions through his prescription, "Go to the Patient, Not to a Book." In his review he clarified the purpose of the Big Book;" ...it does not seek to treat nor teach by its contents...it is a description of a program that is effective."