To Stanton From AA Minority

Readers Question Readers Question: (Name changed for privacy)
Stanton Peele Response by: Dr. Stanton Peele
Posted on May 15th, 2017 - Last updated: October 22nd, 2018
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Dear Dr Peele,
Thank you for writing “Diseasing of America: How We Allowed Recovery Zealots and the Treatment Industry to Convince US We Are Out of Control,” and co-writing “Resisting 12-Step Coercion: How to Fight Forced Participation in AA, NA, or 12-Step Treatment,” with Charles Bufe and Archie Brodsky.
Excerpts from the books have been used in a minority report entitled “Synanon Cult Influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, Addiction Treatment and the Criminal Justice System 1968-2017”, authored by members of Alcoholics Anonymous resident in Great Britain. The books are also listed as suggested reading in the report’s bibliography.
Although the report is addressed to A.A. members, excerpts and other referenced academic literature in the report, may be of interest to yourself, or to your colleagues, should any wish to research this area further.
Synanon’s widespread influence on A.A. groups was recorded in 1968 in A.A. Grapevine, the International Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. Synanon’s legacy continues to unfold upon A.A. via the Therapeutic Communities (TC) Movement’s policy change toward A.A. and introduction of the Recovery Model and Recovery Oriented Integration System (ROIS), which aim to integrate TC treatment with A.A. within formal healthcare systems.
Regarding the dominant social and scientific attitudes toward integrating A.A. within formal healthcare systems, the minority report’s conclusion agrees with those of a 10 year study of A.A. by Dr. Zafiridis, Associate Professor of Psychology of Addictions, Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; published in paper entitled “Alcoholics and narcotics anonymous: A radical movement under threat”, Zafiridis, P., Lainas, S. (2012), Addiction Research and Theory, 20(2), 93–104.
It may also be of interest how a movement founded in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, in 2001, beginning with around 200 participants, with the aim of mobilizing thousands of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts into a political force, could in less than 10 years, provide a major impetus in shifting UK government drug strategies toward an integrated recovery-oriented model of treatment in what has been described as “a fundamental shift in policy in both Scotland and England toward a recovery perspective.” And how representatives from a “therapeutic” boarding school, renamed after being cited in the 2008, 110th Congress hearing “Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens,” were invited to the House of Commons in the UK in 2014, to give a presentation on what the “therapeutic” boarding school has to offer in the UK.
The minority report, addressed to A.A. General Service conferences worldwide, has been submitted to the A.A. General Service Office in Great Britain for consideration as a topic for General Service Conference discussion in 2018. It is not confidential and has been leaked to the Internet.
A pdf of the report (Revised and resubmitted 22.04.17) may be obtained by searching “Synanon Cult Influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, Addiction Treatment and the Criminal Justice System 1968-2017”.
Alternatively should you wish, a pdf of the report will be sent to you on request.
Please forward this email to Charles Bufe and Archie Brodsky if you think it would be of interest to them.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
aa minority

http://aacultwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/minority-report-2017.html

 

 

Stanton Peele

Dr. Stanton Peele, recognized as one of the world's leading addiction experts, developed the Life Process Program after decades of research, writing, and treatment about and for people with addictions. Dr. Peele is the author of 14 books. His work has been published in leading professional journals and popular publications around the globe.

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