Addiction in Society

Addiction--the thematic malady for our society--entails every type of psychological and societal problem.

Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D., has been researching and treating addiction since he wrote Love and Addiction (1975). He also wrote 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. See full bio

May 13, 2008, Addiction

Comments on "How to Tell Kooky Nuts in the Addiction Field"

How to Tell Kooky Nuts in the Addiction Field

By Stanton Peele on May 13, 2008 in Addiction in Society

Unfortunately, this is a very large group - but this post provides ironclad ways to ferret them out. Read More

Amen...

Submitted by Michael J. Formica on May 13, 2008 - 4:57pm.

Stanton: When I read Love and Addiction in college, it was a revelation both personally and professionally. Now, working in this field for so many years, and continuing to following your work, all I can say to this article as a peer is...A-freakin'-men. Thanks for everything you've given us, and continue to contribute, over the decades. Blessings, Michael

Thanks

Submitted by Becky on May 14, 2008 - 7:20am.

This was a great post. I get so tired of the idea that self-report is not a valid form of appraisal when it comes to substance use. It doesn't matter if a person intuitively knows they don't have a problem because they are obviously just in denial. This type of black and white thinking takes away personal control and then expects a person to exert personal control at the same time. It says "You don't know what is best, so now you must reach deep inside and do what is best."

I am a very moderate drinker but in college I drank more frequently ( it was college). After coming home from a party I was given an MIP. I wasn't drunk (blew a .08) and was of no harm to myself or anyone else. The MSU police just needed a quota since alcohol was a problem on campus and who easier to arrest then someone who is basically sober and willing to cooperate. Anyway, because of this "run in with the law" I now score high on the "problem drinker" scale since, yes I have had a legal consequence for my drinking. I guess I must be a raging alcoholic and clearly in denial:)

AA is not for some folks. I

Submitted by James on May 18, 2008 - 5:26pm.

AA is not for some folks. I went to meetings for 3 years and then stopped going and stayed sober another 7 years on my own. I went out and got intoxicated, not to the point of blacking out, just 8 or 9 beers. I did it a couple more weekends and stopped because I didn't like the feeling and thought it none to smart of myself because I really like the taste of beer and it's effects. The problem is if you have more than 3 it's illegal to be anywhere other than home.

Gagh... Why does everyone

Submitted by M-Dogg on May 28, 2008 - 10:12pm.

Gagh... Why does everyone still believe the kooky nuts?!! Do people listen to street preachers (who could very well go on to become addiction counselors themselves) when they carry on about the Lizard Machine? No? Then why listen to the same nonsense Bill Wilson made famous in the 20's? (everyone knows the standard "Powerlessness is power, Denial is acceptance, War is Peace" bull-doodoo).
If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a glass of grape juice!

Scary Kooky nuts --- it's so true

Submitted by KookyNut victim on July 23, 2008 - 9:34am.

I am someone who gets evaluated every 3 months by a Kooky nut from Serenity Lane. He is AA completely, and thinks that I am in denial since I do SMART recovery, and am showing clear signs of drinking after his evaluation period is over (in 2 more years) because I "have trouble with my diagnosis". I have trouble with being diagnosed an alcoholic, when I got a DUI, but never had blackouts, etc, and volunteered for treatment instead of being in denial. Unless I spout back what he wants, he is going to "ding" me. SO I tell him what he wants. Then he doubts my sincerity. Unfortunately my license to work depends on his evaluations partially. So, I have to suck on Kooky Nuts. MmM.. salty. lol.

Hmmm... am I a kookie nut?

Submitted by David Kaplan on September 25, 2009 - 9:45am.

I used to be into drugs and heavy, dangerous drinking. I went to rehab and AA meetings. I got sober and now I've been sober for over 6 years. I think AA helps people. I don't force my opinion on people. In fact, I simply make it known that I don't do drugs or drink if the situation warrants it. (ie. someone is offering me drugs or a drink)

Maybe I'm naive, but kookie or not, AA keeps me sober. If I had to choose being high on drugs and/or drinking and driving - or - being called a kookie nut - I'd rather be a kook.

David

Belonging to AA isn't kookie

Submitted by Stanton Peele on September 25, 2009 - 9:54am.

David:

(You don't have a secret handshake - do you - although you do have those "One of Bill's friends" bumper stickers - just kidding.)

It's just arguing that no one can achieve normalcy after a drinking problem (that's what you have, right) without AA - or that no one can choose to leave AA to do it on their own - or that any of the millions of alternative versions of reality people find are no good - that would make you a nut.

Stanton

Kooksville...

Submitted by David Kaplan on September 25, 2009 - 3:48pm.

To be honest, I don't go to too many AA meetings anymore. Part of the reason I don't is because I manage to stay sober without them. But, I do still consider myself part of the AA community.

That said, I agree that there are many zealots in AA. I've met more than a few. It kinda drives me nuts and I often feel that 12-Step programs are kinda cultish.

But, cultishness aside, I'm living proof that it works. I'm sure there are other methods that would be just as effective. I hadn't found any until AA.

I just want to finish by saying that there are alot of slogans and mottos in AA. "One Day at a Time", "Easy Does It", etc. But the one I hear often which may help you and others understand 12-Step programs is, "It's not for everybody, but for us it works."

Hopefully that'll balance your notion that people in AA believe their way is the only way (and some do.)

David

Calling people "kooky nuts" is a symptom of denial

Submitted by Anonymous on October 5, 2009 - 3:41pm.

People can be mistaken without being "kooky nuts" but people who resort to snark and name-calling are clearly hostile and fearful.

I have one comment about the Science Mag published study that the author took such delight in denigrating. He points out that according to the study, abstinence was less successful than controlled drinking training. Well, duh. Abstinence is tough, and easy to measure. What's controlled drinking but ultimatley subjective? It may take six months or a year or even two, but eventually these "controlled" drinkers invariably deteriorate.