Who is Gabrielle Glaser?

This is an excerpt from a rebuttal article on Why AA works - "In a story in the April issue of The Atlantic that was posted online earlier today, journalist Gabrielle Glaser harshly criticizes Alcoholics Anonymous. AA and similar 12-step programs, Here and throughout the piece, Glaser is simply ignoring a decade’s worth of science. “No, that’s not true,” said Dr. John Kelly, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, when I ran Glaser’s argument by him. “There’s quite a bit of evidence now, actually, that’s shown that AA works.”  

This is just a snippet of what is out there right now on social media after Gabrielle Glaser went on MSNBC with Chris Hayes to discuss "The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous".  And all I can say is thank goodness for NYMag and Dr. John Kelly for their comments to balance out the whacka doo that is Gabby Glaser.  In my humble opinion of course.  I'm not one to say that AA is the ONLY way to get someone sober, its just the method that worked for me. But for some lady, Gabrielle Glaser, to go on national TV  and basically trash AA is just wrong.   It's wrong on so many levels.  Clearly the US Justice System thinks it works as it court mandates meetings for continual drunk drivers, as well as certain drug addicts, but to to question what works for a few million people and throw a wrench into Recovery from a hopeless state of mind and body is just a bunch of phooey! I think we need to boycott anything Gabrielle Glaser says, writes or does, or at least I will.  

How many stories of recovery do we need to hear before someone like dear old Gabby can just put a lid on it.  I too agree there are other ways to get clean and sober and AA isn't a cure-all for everyone, but the damage she, and others in the media, are doing to AA and its Fellowship and the organization cannot be reversed.  AA has been getting a bad rap in the media for a while, at least since Lindsay Lohan was photographed reading a copy of the Big Book, only to go out and relapse soon after.  Hey, I'm not the poster child for AA and How it Works, but there are reasons we have traditions and service organizations and volunteers, etc.  I'm just sayin'. 

I'm forever indebted to AA for changing my life and making it better.  The fact that its the method that has worked for so many years and for so many people should speak for itself.  I didn't think I was one of those "soap box" folks before today.  But, for AA I guess I am. and there it is. 

Thank you Thank you Thank you.........

I'm so appreciative of all the great reviews , "Last Call", has been receiving. Seriously, blown away.  Its been an amazing past few weeks as I've entered into the world of Twitter, blogging, recovery websites and a whole new industry that I hadn't much dipped my toe into.  I've met (via social media) some very cool folks, very hip and trendy, very smart and informative and most of all very encouraging! Isn't that what this is all about? To help others on our journey.  So true and so healing to see all this recovery in others and everyone I've met has been an true inspiration to me...and to others! I am so blessed.  Of important note are two recovery blogs that are sharing my story on and better yet are offering into a glimpse into my book and blog :) 

http://veronicavalli.com/  Veronica Valli is a "Sober Girl telling the World Recovery Rocks" and a therapist (also in recovery) who specializes in addiction. She recently launched her book, Why you drink and How to stop:  Journey to Freedom.  I just started reading her book and I'm graced by her plight to help others as well.  Its all good! 

Also, Chris Aguirre is another recovery warrior who has a site, sincerightnow.com, KLEN and SOBR.  His site features stories, pod casts, twitter feeds, blogs, and the like.  

So thanks everyone who's been a supporter and cheer leader to me along this plight...I'm just going to keep on plugging away.  Just a sample of a couple of recent reviews.....

5 out of 5 stars Life of the Party Girl shares her painful, funny, and courageous journey to overcome addiction!, 

This review is from: Last Call: A Memoir (Kindle Edition)

Couldn't put it down! A brilliantly written, amazing journey thru the eyes of a ferociously funny, courageous women about her personal struggle with alcohol and addiction. The book begins as the Author attends her first teenage “alcohol party” where she is hooked on “the drink” after her first sip. As she navigates the reader into her world of the functioning adult alcoholic, the author uses humor to ease her pain as we witness her life start to unravel. Nancy's ability to tell her personal struggle with this ugly disease of addictions and gain back her power, offers a inspirational tale of recovery. A must read book for any woman who considers herself a "better version of herself" when she is drinking at a party!

5 out of 5 stars A Gritty Account of Addiction, 

This review is from: Last Call: A Memoir (Kindle Edition)

Loved this book! Nancy draws you in, taking you on the journey with her from her first drink to her last. Feeling her pain, shame and frustration. In the end, taking that leap to battle and beat her addictions, I rejoiced in her hard fought/hard earned victory and, ultimately, her happy life on the other side of addiction.