Hi all. I need some prayers -- and good wishes!! My step daughter is the editor of a local magazine in the Niagara Region - delivered to probably 20,000 hi-income homes in the area....my darling husband suggested to her that they do a story on alcoholism and naltrexone...he said "you don't mind being interviewed eh honey?" I was soooooo hoping that she'd not be interested but lo and behold the reporter should be calling me any day....thank goodness it will be anonymous!! I wish I were brave enough to have my name used if it would help others who know me, but I'm just not that brave!!

The luck I need (not to mention prayers) is that the writer will not tweak the story such that the real message gets garbled...you all know what happens "after" the interview, and the writer's little "agenda" gets into the story! As well they often ruin a story by getting "the other side" and who would they go to: AA!!!

I'm hoping to be able to say what I want to say and have it stay in: that the AA model is outdated by medical research, that abstinence is not always necessary for some, that control is possible on naltrexone, that there really are safe, viable alternatives to AA, that people need to empower themselves - do their homework - demand action from doctors if they are ignorant of the drugs available, that the shame of being "an alcoholic" is now destroyed by the knowledge that chemicals sloshing around in our heads are most likely responsible for our "problem."

Anyway, I'll post once the mag is out and let you all know how things went!! I wish my poor dad had lived long enough to take advantage of this breakthrough - his last 5 years or so were really sad - he had bad health and beer was his only solace and he died an unhappy alcoholic with my mother nagging him constantly about his drinking. I thank God everyday for the blessing of TSM.

GOOD LUCK BGH - Nice to know you are letting the public know..thats awesome

This is great - you'll be a great ambassador and I will indeed hold a good thought that the reporter is reporting, not shopping an agenda.

Mainstreaming this treatment is so important.

Good luck and good job BGH. The more ways we have to get the word out the better!

Hi BGH

that is great news, and a great opportunity to spread the word about TSM.

If I could be so presumptious as to make some suggestions

Don't bash AA - it'll be the 'default approach' in most peoples minds, and they (the readers) will assume you're a lunatic if the writer spins it in any aggressive way. I'd be more inclined to suggest something like "AA has historically been the only approach for many people, and many people have used it successfully when dealing with this terrible disease. When AA was founded there was no pharmacological treatment options available - although it is interesting that the founder, Bill X [ you can look up his name and where he said the following to get the quote] envisiaged a day when there would be. Most people in AA wouldn't believe that alcohol is inherently bad - the problem is with the relationship that the alcoholic has developed with alcohol - a different relationship than the 'normal drinker' has. Why people develop that abnormal relationship is a simple question, but has no simple answer - there are a multitude of factors involved according to all the experts in the field. In the absence of any pharmacological approach to help people rediscover that 'normal relationship', the choice is either to 'go it alone' - which is not impossible, but very difficult and has a pretty low success rate, or to aim for complete abstinence. That too is very difficult, even with the support of a massive and well-known organisation like AA, as seen by the success rates (I've seen them quoted as low as 5%). The language of AA, for example, talks about the 'dry drunk' and 'X days sober' - it is, in a sense, about managing the problem rather than curing it. What naltrexone does is acts on the cause - the brain function that 'learns' the abnormal relationship and lets the drinker 'relearn' the relationship. Over time the problem drinker can effectively wind the clock back, until they reach a stage where they can make a simple and easy choice - maintain a normal relationship with alcohol (by always taking naltrexone before drinking) or choose to abstain."

I would avoid using the term 'outdated' when talking about AA - instead phrase it (as above) that when AA was developed, there was no medicinal option - now there is.

RE abstinence - I'd talk it about it as the only sensible and rational choice for some people, but not maybe necessary for all - otherwise we'd have to revisit prohibition!

I also wouldn't talk about doctors being ignorant - it may be true, but no point getting their backs up. Instead, I'd say something like "It is a pity that this approach isn't more widely known, but perhaps that isn't surprising given that it is relatively new and that AA and the rehab industry are so well established and well known. However that is changing - for example the New York Times article in [get the approximate date] and the online community [i.e. here] as well as Dr. Sinclairs published research and Dr. Eskapas book have helped to alert many members of the public as well as the medical community to this alternative and highly succesful approach'

I woudn't say what you've written about the 'chemicals in our head' either - it would be too easy for a lazy journalist to spin that into "Lazy people say its not my fault - give me a magic pill" or "Crazy Lady with her chemicals in her head - does she wear a tinfoil hat too?" etc
If you want to broach the subject I'd suggest drawing an analogy with depression - long ago it was regarded as weakness and that people should 'pull themselves together', while now the medical profession is aware of the neurological basis and how drugs can be used to help deal with the problem. Alcoholism is a complex problem that combines poor choices, with hereditary physiological features, environment etc. In the same way that anti-depressants opened up new treatments for depression, naltrexone has opened up new treatments for those who've (for all the complex reasons) become alcoholics but are genuinely seeking to recover.

Hope that doesn't come accross as too 'pushy' on my part, just trying to give my 2p worth!

@ one4 - all really good suggestions. If we are really interested in helping others, we will focus on the positive and not grind personal axes, no matter how valid they may be. The more positive we remain, the better it reflects on the kinds of changes tsm makes in our lives.

Hi BGH,

Thank you so much for having the courage to do this. As public awareness increases, TSM will be viewed more favorably by GP's and insurance companies.

1-4-The-Road offered some very valuable and insightful suggestions. If I could contribute, it would be to suggest to keep the disussion very positivie and upbeat. Perhaps mention that TSM has been validated in the largest clinical trial ever conducted on the disease of alcoholism, and was shown to be far more effective than treatments based on abstinence. The study involved 1383 alcohol dependent patients treated at 11 academic institutions.

It will be hard to effectively communicate the rather subtile concept of pharmicoligical extinction within the space of a short interview. Perhaps you could mention this site, and try to describe the vibrant and support community that exists here. Keep in mind that a large percentage of folks reading the article will be alcoholics that have not yet come to grips with their problem. I wish that I had found this site sooner.

Thanks again. We all appreciate your important contibution.

Best,
-wort

Hey you guys are terrific - thanks for all the suggestions - I do tend to "run off at the mouth" and to get a little enthusiastic instead of thinking things through. I'll make sure I read your posts again before I do the interview!! My husband is the copy editor for this rag ( I mean mag.) but he may not be able to save me if I shoot myself in the foot!! And I do want Dr. Sinclair's message to be front and centre. Thanks again.

Great opportunity & I totally agree w/ 1-4's suggestions that you catch more flies w/ honey. You might also want to mention the websites (here and MWO) and the fact there are several medications besides NAL that are effective for treating addiction. TSM is just a different (and mostly effective) approach with use of NAL, a "well-known" medication in the treatment of alcoholism, w/o being totally abstinent. blahblahblah. The medical community is slow to respond for sure as is the public perception that AA/abstinence is the ONLY way and the belief that there is no "cure" for addiction. We beg to differ. If addiction is to be viewed as a sickness or a disease, then surely a medical cure could be possible. Afterall, there is a cure for addiction to nicotine now, why not other things as well?!

Dr. Ameisen quoted Eintein: "It is harder to crack a predjudice than an atom".

Good luck!!

As much as I hate AA, I agree with what everyone has said. I would tout the virtues of TSM based upon the 78% success rate of the studies as well as your own experience. If AA comes up, you can say it works for some people -- but the studies show, a very small percentage: 5-10% tops. But I agree, you should be touting TSM and not bashing AA. Most people think AA is legit so if you bash it, you will lose credibility in a lot of people's eyes.