We interview Joe Miller, author of the book, “US of AA: How the Twelve Steps Hijacked the Science of Alcoholism.”  The book explores the history, politics and science of alcoholism and exposes how AA became the nation’s de facto treatment policy, even as evidence for more effective remedies accumulated.

We discuss celebrity rehab clinics with one its most famous therapists, psychic Audrey Hope. She claims to provide critical healing of the soul for addicts. Others criticize her methods as unscientific and the rehab centers for charging exorbitant rates for questionable treatments.

In 1994, the FDA approved the drug Naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism.  It allows one to drink but takes away the intoxicating effects of alcohol.  It can be taken orally or by an implant.  When the alcoholic brain no longer gets the effects of the alcohol, the desire to drink naturally diminishes.  It has proven to have a 78% success rate.  We talk to Claudia Christian, former Babylon 5 actress and producer/narrator of the documentary, “One Little Pill.”  It saved her life.  AA insists on total abstinence and thus does not promote the use of the medication.  Is that why most people have never heard of it?

Monica Richardson is the director of the controversial documentary, “The 13th Step.” The film exposes how courts are ordering violent sex offenders to AA meetings, unknown to the public. This, combined with others who use AA to exploit emotionally vulnerable women for sex, can make AA meetings a very dangerous place.

In Part II Greg shares his personal recovery story. He overcame his addiction by working through major childhood trauma with a therapist. His answer for other addicts: See a doctor who is a Board Certified Addiction Specialist.

We sit down with Producer Greg Horvath who reveals that recovery centers, such as Betty Ford, charge $30-50K a month yet have no proven success rate, do not utilize modern medicine, and rely on the 12 step program. Their only advice to those leaving: go to AA meetings. No wonder it is a revolving door…

Seven of the 12 steps involve acknowledging the presence of God or a “higher power.” So, what if you don’t believe in God? We talk to Joe C. the author Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings For A 12 Step Life. Joe is a member of “Secular AA,” a group formed for alcoholics who are atheist or agnostic for whom the 12 steps make no sense.

Dr. Mark Willenbring directed the NIH division responsible for funding research grants on alcohol treatment to Universities.  He found that modern, scientific treatments were not being exposed to the masses as 85% of treatment in the U.S. relies on the outdated 12 step program.   He wants to change that.

One of the country’s foremost experts on addiction explains that we focus too much on the substances, not enough on the individual. We are not powerless over these drugs, as the 12 step program would have you believe. We just need to be aware, use common sense, and engage in worthy pursuits.