I have to say I agree that there is no 'magic pill' per se, however, I kinda disagree with jim and mciws (sorry:) Common sense sort of points out that, probably, one shouldn't use being on naltrexone as "an excuse to get plastered", but I don't recall reading in the book much else that either of them are expressing in their posts. I think the simple advice was to drink as usual, just wait an hour after taking the pill before one starts drinking, and the rest just sorta happens from there. Granted, I think that those who WANT to quit/cut down, FOR THEMSELVES may have an advatage because they will be paying attention and appreciating the times they feel the nal working, and be grateful to drink less on those occassions. But I don't recall reading anything about trying to mindfully or purposefully control one's intake in the book. Sorry! I mean, the willpower and growing spiritually stuff maybe something that happens for a lot of people, but I simply don't recall it as a requirement of TSM... Can you reference what you are proposing in your posts from the book, guys? Just wondering, because if it is your personal opinions, maybe you should reference that in your post before going on about your own ideas which may be out of sync with what Dr.'s Escada and Sinclair present as TSM. It may confuse those who haven't read the book or are new.

Dr. Sinclair's rats were probably less spiritual than most of us here. And he himself said that they never listened to him anyway, so I guess they didn't use a lot of willpower to stop. I'm guessing that his rats didn't even know they were going to be "normal" drinkers instead of alcoholic rats.

Bob

that is funny, bob. lol.

Excellent post, Bob. However, humans are a bit more psychologically (and spiritually?) complex than rats, which adds another dimension to the addiction issue. I am not as spiritually attuned when drinking heavily as I was during my sober years. When my drinking decreases, I find it much easier to pray, meditate, and 'clue in' to what is going on with others. My intuition is heightened, and my sense of peace much stronger.

Who knows? Maybe the rats felt that way too!

I strongly doubt that the rats have any spiritual component. I do agree vehemently that humans are far more advanced than rats. However, I strongly believe that our addictions are at a level that are at a level that all mammals succumb to. (Note: I am not an evolutionist, but there are strong similarities between mammals, by design I think).

Bob

Greetings,

Actually, I wrote about a 70% reduction and I do not think Jim made such a claim. I am the classic "1 is too many and 15 is not enough" binge drinker. I started Nal 4 weeks ago and I have recently went through my charts to recalculate my figures. So far my overall consumption has been reduced by about 55% and my incidence of heavy drinking by 67 % (I define heavy drinking, initially, as more than 10 drinks per occasion given my tolerance and drinking pattern). My recent pattern has been 4-5 light to moderate drinking days and then 1 heavy day. So I am not convinced about the honeymoon effect (I hope it is not to come). For me any light to moderate drinking days is a small miracle as I ALWAYS drank around 20+ per occasion. I can only think of 1 occasion over the past few years when I drank less (I was ill). So, while it is not "magic" it has been a potent little pill for me thus far.

Regards,
MCIWS

Nice.

V.

Hi all,

Naltrexone is not magic. It is a medical break through. Used properly it will cure your alcoholism. It is that simple. Of couse I should not use Naltexone as an excuse to get plastered - I got plenty of other ones. But I am doing as I always did. I never walked intoa bar and said, "I'm going stay here to 4 AM, pass out, pee on myself, vomit in my car, miss work, and feel like a bum". I walked into the bar with the intention of getting a buzz and talking sports with the other patrons but what I described above usually happenned. I still walk in the bar with the intention to have a few drinks, shoot the breeze, and maybe have some wings. However now I take Nalrexone first. I hvae found over the last 4 and 1/2 weeks that it is now much easier to do as intended. I think it's due to several factors. 1) Naltrexone, 2) I know that I don't have to go back to abstinence so I don't have to get all my drinking done in one night, 3) Harm reduction practices - eat when you drink, drink water, try not to drink when angry, know your weakness (I don't do shots anymore), set limits and try to stick by them, if you fail don't beat yourself up - better is better, keep trying 4) keeping a journal, and 5) the firm belief that NALTREXONE + DRINKING = CURE. This is what works for me and I am sticking with it.

Best Regards to all
Tom

Pre: 46 – 80+ units
Wk/Units/Craving
1: ...44 .....10
2: .. 40......10 2 AF
3: ...40......9.. 3 AF
4: ...31......9...4 AF
5: ..in progress.


For those who are interested here is the LINK for HAMS - Harm reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support.

http://hamsnetwork.org/

Hey~

I wasn't around for a bit and all this goes down without me! I like it. Especially the spiritual part. I remember reading a prayer a long time ago and thinking how it zeroed in on my own issues.

The Holy Vedas say, 'Man has subjected himself to thousands of self-inflicted bondages. Wisdom comes to a man who lives according to the true eternal laws of nature.'

I listen to the people who write on the Sinclair board. You are intelligent people struggling to get out of your addiction. There's nothing wrong with that. And each one of us has to do it our own way.

Where there is doubt, faith~

Wow -
These last 2 posts, Tom & Whiteroses, brought tears to my eyes. I sit at my computer in my Houston apartment, looking out at trees and grass, a big pond and the freeway beyond, people on the jogging path...and I think of how many millions of us there are out there. And we have this little community of us good people, united in our foibles, our feelings of doubt and failure...

...brought together after stumbling upon this method in the last few moonths. All with this great sense of hope. I have doubts, as we all do, but mygod, Tom - your story is such a good one. I am so happy for you!
So happy & hopeful for us all.