Interesting points of view and information. Nick, GREAT information and links, thank you so much. Amy, I agree with you in principle, but personally, I would not feel I could help anyone until I helped myself. And, unfortunately, in the area where I live, AA rules. I will take this up with my doc, but she's more likely to respond favorably, do her own research and the reading if I can show how it helped me. We have a good relationship and respect each other.

I can understand a Doc's reluctance to prescribe the TSM program. If they know about it, and have had experience with it, they are not likely to hesitate, but without experience or exposure to the successes of the program, I can see where they might find it contradictory to give someone who abuses alcohol a prescription and a plan that tells them to drink. Without some follow up, or controls, it has to seem very risky to a doctor to take that step. Around here that follow up and control doesn't exist.

It's a shame, for sure. I'm doing great, I am fully confident I will be cured and I will talk to my Doc. If she's really interested, maybe she will connect me with a clinician who is working in the field and I can do more to spread the word. But, my feeling is everyone will be more likely to listen to a subject who is not abusing the substance. (Kinda' like listening to a thin person versus a chubby person on the subject of diet and exercise.)

I love the discussion and the back and forth and soul searching the recent postings under JUST GOT TURNED DOWN started. Thoughtfulness, awareness and knowledge are a big part of the success of TSM.

Thanks all for all the ideas!

I agree, doctors have a hard time telling an alchie it's ok to drink. In the past, several board members here have asked for Naltrexone and lied to their doctor and told them it was helpful as an antic-craving drug -- accordingly, they wanted Naltrexone to help them abstain. Since the drug was incorrectly used that way before, and remains marketed with that recommendation, most doctors are ok with this.

By any means necessary. It's your life.

Maybe that is why the drug is marketed that way - so it is accepted by the medical community.

No. It's marketed that way because Naltrexone does have a temporary, anti-craving effect. However, it doesn't last for most people. It was discovered that many of those who were given instructions to abstain when taking Naltrexone continued to drink anyway. And those that did, benefited the most. Subsequent studies have validated that using Naltrexone while you drink is far more effective treatment than using Naltrexone with abstinence.