Recovery Dynamics

At A 2nd Chance Recovery Center, we use a recovery methodology called Recovery Dynamics. Recovery Dynamics is a program that was created by two men named Joe and Charlie in 1978. At this time, these men met to devise the program that would be based on Alcoholics Anonymous and literature such as the Big Book, Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after AA.

The program of Recovery Dynamics looks at the history of treatment for alcoholism and the three goals to be achieved which are understanding the problem, arriving at the solution and undertaking the recovery.

For many years, when attempting the treatment of alcoholism, human beings did not understand the problem.  Of every ten people who used alcohol, one became an alcoholic. The nine who could drink without problems attempted to understand the problems of the one who couldn't drink!   This brought about a confusion that lasted hundreds of years.

We plainly see today that these normal people did not understand the problem. They thought it was a case of weak will or that it was a sin or a moral issue. It was not until 1934 that alcoholism was determined to be a disease. It should be noted that as far back as 1785 Benjamin Rush, MD stated that Alcoholism was a disease, but in 1813, the Temperance Movement thought of Alcoholism as a social problem and in 1840, the Washingtonians declared it a moral problem.  In 1900, the Emmanuel Movement thought it to be a psychological problem and once again in 1933, W. D. Silkworth, MD, found alcoholism to be a disease. So Dr. Silkworth and Bill Wilson finally concluded that alcoholism was indeed a disease and the only hope for recovery was a vital spiritual experience with a psychic change brought about through a 12 step program of recovery and a fellowship of alcoholics helping each other.  In 1934, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob started the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, but even today only very few understand alcoholism, and to the alcoholic, ignorance to this disease can be FATAL.