It's a small mention, but still, can you imagine how many women read 'O The Magazine'????

In the Dec. 2009 issue I found an article called 'Tipsy-Turvy, scientists are redefining what it means to be a problem drinker- and their findings might surprise you'. Part of the article states: Addiction experts have a new view of alcohol abuse these days, and it's no longer black-and-white (either you have things under control or you need to go to AA). Throw out the image of a disheveled, puffy-faced wreck who's lost her job and family. "These 'typical' symptoms aren't common at all," says Mark Willenbring, MD, director of the treatment and recovery research division of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It's also time to forget the idea that problem drinking is a lifelong curse cured only by abstinence. WOW!!! Can you believe that??? Progress!!! It was the last paragraph that makes the mention of nal. Here it is:

The Web site rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nig.gov has a good list of tips for cutting back. And there are now more treatment options for problem drinkers who aren't visibly out of control, "who in the past had nowhere to go," says Andrew Tatarsky, PhD, a New York City clinical psychologist. Among them: therapies that allow moderation as an alternative to abstinence and a variety of prescription drugs (naltrexone, acamprosate, et al.) that reduce cravings.

Then it goes on to stay how to tell if you have a potential problem: you break your word, you self-medicate, you imbibe daily. All the things we are quite well aware of.... I have not visited the niaaa website yet, but I'll probably check it out.

You can probably read the whole article on Oprah's website, but if anyone would like it I don't mind typing it here, it's not long and I've already included 2 paragraphs here.

petal

typo in the url for niaaa, sorry! It's actually:

rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov

I saw that too. Yes, NAL is being mentioned everywhere now, but never in conjunction w/ TSM of course. Just as a drug to help the cravings...guess it will be both good and bad, thinking insurance providers again. But good people are learning there is an alternative to AA

Thanks for the link. Here it is as a direct link you can just click on:

rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov

Bob

From the government website: "Medications to treat alcoholism. Newer medications (naltrexone, topiramate, and acamprosate) can make it easier to quit drinking by offsetting changes in the brain caused by alcoholism."

Personally I am encouraged to see a US Gov website so recommending NAL.

Hey it is awesome that it is mentioned at all.! Maybe in 2 years we will be seen as the great pioneers we are now!

That Oprah article is precisely the reason I started TSM! Thank you for posting this.

Pre TSM - 84 units
Week 6 - 30 units

2muchwine - glad you found your way here then! Hope it works for you & that you keep us posted on your progress.

Rad!!! I'm glad Nal is finally getting some attention. Now someday maybe TSM will get some run in the press! I just can't imagine any better way. I think TSM should be the first line of defense for alcoholism. A.A. should be last resort. Like I always heard at meetings "This was the last house on the block for me" as it should be IMHO