Naltrexone worked for me, when I couldn't stop on my own. The real draw for me was that (as long as I take a Naltrexone one hour before I start drinking) I can still have a drink or two if I want.
But I don't want it. I really don't. Every once in a while I feel like it'd be nice to have a drink--and then I don't. I've been "sober" for about ten years now after discovering the Sinclair Method online and tried it for myself (thanks to my doctor for prescribing it at my request!).
It helped me wean myself from alcohol--I could drink during the "treatment" and was really stunned to find that I didn't want to drink as the days went by. I just didn't want to.
I have an old Naltrexone bottle in my cabinet that is there if/when I want it, but I can't tell you the last time I drank. Life is better this way.
One important thing to know about the "taking a pill" situation. I used the pill as a tool to wean myself off of alcohol. I use a pill if/when I decide I'm going to drink. Once the physical addiction is ameliorated (strong word, I know!), I stopped take any pill at all-it's simply not necessary if not drinking. Haven't in a couple years.
It's not a lifetime of dependence on another drug--it's just a drug that gets you over the hump of addiction and one you might use periodically if you want a social beer.
Wow, thank you Katie. My wife's drinking also got out of control during COVID and she has tried everything including Naltrexone during outpatient therapy that required her to be drink free for a week before starting on it. Nothing has worked. I've sent her this podcast and hope she will restart it using this method. Thank you for your honesty.
As a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 40 years, I must applaud your courage in addressing a major issue in treating alcohol addiction: the actual physical addiction. Please don’t give up your support of this treatment. The absurd thinking regarding one size fits all is, well, absurd. We are supposed to look at addiction as an illness; ergo, we should be continually looking for additional approaches - not as a replacement - but as an enhancement.
Again, please don’t give up. As I remember when I first got sober in 1980, there was a significant population in the recovery cadre that poo-poo’d antidepressants and said we should not take them. Well, that was bullsh*t, too.
Blessings to you, my dear. Let me know if you need additional support!
Great episode! I have no judgement on Naltrexone, but it sounds like a good option for some people. I did want to suggest a little skepticism regarding the studies that state that AA has a single digit success rate. I’ve been involved with 12-step for years, the only valid way to study the efficacy of this program is to study those who have and continue to work a full program - which means regular attendance at meetings, daily inventory, daily meditation/prayer, talking to a sponsor, outreach to fellows, and sponsoring others in addition to the earlier steps.
If you went to meetings for a while and didn’t jive with it but only worked steps 1 and 2 for instance, that is not working the program. I am not religious at all and found that with willingness and an open mind I’ve been able to turn my will over to a higher power as I understand it. I have met so many people in those rooms with long term sobriety. My two cents.
Glad to hear Naltrexone worked for Katie. I tried it several years ago and couldn't make it stick. I would just drink right through it. Plus I started using marijuana instead. Finally got sober 3.5 years ago. Had a relapse but am coming up on one year since then.
I totally agree, sir. I did a little consulting work for Alkermes, mfg of naltrexone under the name Vivitrol. Associated mostly with opioids, it has applicability to alcoholism. That's what they were researching but nothing came of it. The AA program, which I've been in for 8 years, serves as a ready-made, no overhead outline for rehabs, though most are there for something other than alcohol. With the abysmal relapse rate, one would think they would design another approach but the Big Book is free and they are driven by profit. I was in the busines as a parole officer. I'm writing a substack series about my career.
Interesting take. At first, I was upset thinking this will kill people and how can you air this. Alcoholism is real, and there is only one fix. Then I thought about Covid and the left wing media that would not allow other possible treatments for Covid and completely changed my mind. I do not agree with this treatment, but I am happy that Katie found a treatment that works for her. Here’s to the freedom of speech and opinions. Everyone is different and everyone will hopefully do what is best for them and their health. Only in America. Thank you for your story Katie.
I think the answer is that they might if it was offerred by a qualified person and properly explained. Most associate it with opioids. I know that bc I'm on the inside. As I said, 8 yrs in AA for what it's actually for. What I didn't say is that I was a parole officer/administrator for 40 years. I put people in those rehabs and chased after them when they left prematurely. I'm writing a series on my career in Substack. First issue posted; many more to come. If you would like to take a look behind the curtain, I'm at www.https://edquinn.substack.com.
If you have any questions, I've been around the block.
Excellent report. As an RN I have worked in some rehab units and this information was eye opening. Thank you so much for putting this together. I am definitely spreading the word. I’ve worked with Naltrexone, always wondered why it was or wasn’t used. Now I have more and better information, thanks to all your hard work, Katie. Great job!!
Drugs used to combat addiction merely sidestep the causes and treat the symptoms. AA says, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates."
And yet still, AA success remains very elusive. The mind indeed - - no matter how much quotable, dated, AA material exists, it doesn't seem to change much. Unfortunately, many addiction centres seem wed to this prohibition era model as they can't seem to find anything else - - of questioning use, but still alone. The future is in meds like Naltrexone, alongside long-term counselling.
This was a sweet and relatable story. Nice to hear Katie be vulnerable for a change.
was like listening to an old friend over coffee.
Great first episode! Subscribed and excited for more!
My journey here went:
Commentary Magazine - > I Might Be Wrong - > Blocked and Reported - > Smoke em if You Got em - > here.
Just to make the analyst's job easier!
I hope you packed a lunch.
Naltrexone worked for me, when I couldn't stop on my own. The real draw for me was that (as long as I take a Naltrexone one hour before I start drinking) I can still have a drink or two if I want.
But I don't want it. I really don't. Every once in a while I feel like it'd be nice to have a drink--and then I don't. I've been "sober" for about ten years now after discovering the Sinclair Method online and tried it for myself (thanks to my doctor for prescribing it at my request!).
It helped me wean myself from alcohol--I could drink during the "treatment" and was really stunned to find that I didn't want to drink as the days went by. I just didn't want to.
I have an old Naltrexone bottle in my cabinet that is there if/when I want it, but I can't tell you the last time I drank. Life is better this way.
One important thing to know about the "taking a pill" situation. I used the pill as a tool to wean myself off of alcohol. I use a pill if/when I decide I'm going to drink. Once the physical addiction is ameliorated (strong word, I know!), I stopped take any pill at all-it's simply not necessary if not drinking. Haven't in a couple years.
It's not a lifetime of dependence on another drug--it's just a drug that gets you over the hump of addiction and one you might use periodically if you want a social beer.
Listened to this three times.
Wow, thank you Katie. My wife's drinking also got out of control during COVID and she has tried everything including Naltrexone during outpatient therapy that required her to be drink free for a week before starting on it. Nothing has worked. I've sent her this podcast and hope she will restart it using this method. Thank you for your honesty.
As a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 40 years, I must applaud your courage in addressing a major issue in treating alcohol addiction: the actual physical addiction. Please don’t give up your support of this treatment. The absurd thinking regarding one size fits all is, well, absurd. We are supposed to look at addiction as an illness; ergo, we should be continually looking for additional approaches - not as a replacement - but as an enhancement.
Again, please don’t give up. As I remember when I first got sober in 1980, there was a significant population in the recovery cadre that poo-poo’d antidepressants and said we should not take them. Well, that was bullsh*t, too.
Blessings to you, my dear. Let me know if you need additional support!
Sharon Furstenwerth
Great episode! I have no judgement on Naltrexone, but it sounds like a good option for some people. I did want to suggest a little skepticism regarding the studies that state that AA has a single digit success rate. I’ve been involved with 12-step for years, the only valid way to study the efficacy of this program is to study those who have and continue to work a full program - which means regular attendance at meetings, daily inventory, daily meditation/prayer, talking to a sponsor, outreach to fellows, and sponsoring others in addition to the earlier steps.
If you went to meetings for a while and didn’t jive with it but only worked steps 1 and 2 for instance, that is not working the program. I am not religious at all and found that with willingness and an open mind I’ve been able to turn my will over to a higher power as I understand it. I have met so many people in those rooms with long term sobriety. My two cents.
Glad to hear Naltrexone worked for Katie. I tried it several years ago and couldn't make it stick. I would just drink right through it. Plus I started using marijuana instead. Finally got sober 3.5 years ago. Had a relapse but am coming up on one year since then.
Thanks, I'm going to try this.
I totally agree, sir. I did a little consulting work for Alkermes, mfg of naltrexone under the name Vivitrol. Associated mostly with opioids, it has applicability to alcoholism. That's what they were researching but nothing came of it. The AA program, which I've been in for 8 years, serves as a ready-made, no overhead outline for rehabs, though most are there for something other than alcohol. With the abysmal relapse rate, one would think they would design another approach but the Big Book is free and they are driven by profit. I was in the busines as a parole officer. I'm writing a substack series about my career.
Interesting take. At first, I was upset thinking this will kill people and how can you air this. Alcoholism is real, and there is only one fix. Then I thought about Covid and the left wing media that would not allow other possible treatments for Covid and completely changed my mind. I do not agree with this treatment, but I am happy that Katie found a treatment that works for her. Here’s to the freedom of speech and opinions. Everyone is different and everyone will hopefully do what is best for them and their health. Only in America. Thank you for your story Katie.
Is there a transcript to read?
I think the answer is that they might if it was offerred by a qualified person and properly explained. Most associate it with opioids. I know that bc I'm on the inside. As I said, 8 yrs in AA for what it's actually for. What I didn't say is that I was a parole officer/administrator for 40 years. I put people in those rehabs and chased after them when they left prematurely. I'm writing a series on my career in Substack. First issue posted; many more to come. If you would like to take a look behind the curtain, I'm at www.https://edquinn.substack.com.
If you have any questions, I've been around the block.
Excellent report. As an RN I have worked in some rehab units and this information was eye opening. Thank you so much for putting this together. I am definitely spreading the word. I’ve worked with Naltrexone, always wondered why it was or wasn’t used. Now I have more and better information, thanks to all your hard work, Katie. Great job!!
Drugs used to combat addiction merely sidestep the causes and treat the symptoms. AA says, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates."
Very good. I've read that aloud 100's of times. The problem centers in the mind.
And yet still, AA success remains very elusive. The mind indeed - - no matter how much quotable, dated, AA material exists, it doesn't seem to change much. Unfortunately, many addiction centres seem wed to this prohibition era model as they can't seem to find anything else - - of questioning use, but still alone. The future is in meds like Naltrexone, alongside long-term counselling.