Identify and discuss the similarities and differences between the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)and controlled drinking approaches to treating alcoholism.

Question

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The Answer is Answers will vary but need to contain the following points to earn full credit.
--Both approaches involve others the individual can meet with who are working to help the individual.The mentor in AA is available when the individual finds him- or herself tempted to use alcohol,for example.The mentor in the controlled drinking approach focuses on helping to reinforce the patient's progress and deal with relapse when the person begins drinking.
--Both encourage the individual to avoid situations and people that would tempt them to drink.
--The approaches have very different goals.The AA approach focuses on total abstinence and providing a support system to reinforce sobriety via social support of individuals who understand the various temptations.The controlled drinking approach argues that controlled drinking can be learned and that teaching the individual how to deal with a lapse/relapse is as important,if not more important,than focusing on controlling the drinking.
--The approaches differ in how acceptable the use of controlled drinking is.AA assumes that a single drink will reveal that an individual cannot control his or her drinking behaviour.The controlled drinking approach believes that drinking behaviour is learned like all other forms of behaviour.
--Both approaches focus on the importance of control.In AA this control is internalised via external entities (higher power,social support,etc. )while in the controlled drinking approach,people focus on their own internal ability to engage in moderate,controlled drinking behaviour that is under their own control.

Identify and Discuss the Similarities and Differences Between the Alcoholics