Dr. Alan Marlatt, psychologist and alcoholism expert at the University of Washington, says such programs are too rigid and outdated. After struggling with severe alcohol and drug problems, Richard Banton followed the AA program for six years. Any time you say anything that conflicts with their model, then you're in denial. Searching for his own solution, Banton found some experts who did not subscribe to the disease theory of alcoholism. Instead, they considered alcoholism a behavior that could be changed.
People can change behaviors.
That's an empowering message. For him, it was not the solution. One sip at a time, Kern found that he could devise his own way out of his problem. Kern, who went back to school for a Ph.D., has started a new career helping others with addictions, providing them with alternatives to 12-step programs that advocate abstinence. Glaser, who runs a course that teaches problem drinkers to reduce their drinking, says his program appeals to people who might otherwise not seek treatment at all.