The Sober Truth

Debunking the Bad Science Behind 12-Step Programs and the Rehab Industry

By: Lance Dodes MD, Zachary Dodes

Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies

AA has become so infused in our society that it is practically synonymous with addiction recovery. Yet the evidence shows that AA has only a 5-10 percent success rate - hardly better than no treatment at all. Despite this, doctors, employers, and judges regularly refer addicted people to treatment programs and rehab facilities based on the 12-step model.

In The Sober Truth, acclaimed addiction specialist Dr. Lance Dodes exposes the deeply flawed science that the 12-step industry has used to support its programs. Dr. Dodes analyzes dozens of studies to reveal a startling pattern of errors, misjudgments, and biases. He also pores over the research to highlight the best peer-reviewed studies available and discovers that they reach a grim consensus on the program's overall success.

But The Sober Truth is more than a book about addiction. It is also a book about science and how and why AA and rehab became so popular, despite the discouraging data. Dr. Dodes explores the entire story of AA's rise, from its origins in early fundamentalist religious and mystical beliefs to its present-day place of privilege in politics and media.

©2014 Lance Dodes and Zachary Dodes (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A searing critique of the rehab industry." -Psychotherapy Networker

Insightful

I had not realized that AA was a religion but now I understand better the big business model.

A necessary read for those with genuine interest

After three years of success addressing personal addiction issues and intensive reading of most every source available, this book is at least within the top three most revealing of the problems and potential solutions to addiction.

The Truth will set you free.

I’m four years sober and thriving despite my disagreement with most of the twelve steps. This is a much needed point of view that is backed by serious research and relevant questions. This book will help many people to recover not just from addiction, but from the damage that can be caused by the 12 step approach of recovery.

Good science debunks AA myths/cult.

Excellent. Debunks AA nonsense. Still confuses abstinence with 'sobriety' though. Worth a listen. AA believers will hate it, but then science isn't their strong point is it?

Mandatory Reading!

As someone who lives AND works in the recovery sphere, I wish someone had handed me this book the day I walked in to rehab!

Absolutely True! Thanks for spelling it out

I love this book! It breaks down the frustratingly obvious problems with 12 step groups and rehabs in a logical way. It explains why they are highly ineffective for most people and also points out the harmful outcomes of using AA and NA as the gold standard for addiction treatment. Very good book :)

There needs to be more awareness about 12 step programs and how they truly affect people

I loved the interviews and how this book goes very in depth about everything that's wrong with 12 step programs

Genius

Finally, somebody that understands me. I've been struggling with alcoholism for 15 years and I have gone to thousands of anonymous support groups. The author eloquently articulated what I have been feeling and thinking for years and years. It was very reassuring to hear his point of you, backed up by very compelling facts. Everybody has by default recommended that I pursue AA, and if that doesn't work, try more AA. I am then failure because I was unable to abide by what is stop by the majority to be a fool-proof system where if success is not achieved, it is the fault of the user and no other explanation is possible. Thank you for writing this eye opening book, a must-read for anyone affected by addiction.

this does not help anyone

a book about the obvious ways one can and has thrown stones at AA for decades

ill keep using it until science finds a better way

wish the resources used to publish and write this book were used to help finding better solution to addiction vs poking holes at the only solution we know that works if followed

vince mendola

Didn’t explore other options

There are a number of treatment options that weren’t explored. He tears into AA pretty well and with good reason, but then is overtly confident that he has the one solution or root of all addiction. Also refers to his other book like 3 other times and it’s pretty annoying. Over it was ok. Not the best book to explore AA and addiction, but it might be the type of book someone needs to hear.