:The AA Blog

Brad Edwards is known by many names; Claude Hooten, Claude “Hoot” Hooten and sometimes just plain old “Hoot”. You see, back in the day when A.M. talk radio was king, Brad Edwards worked along side radio legends like Wolfman Jack. However, during that time, Edwards was fighting an addiction with alcohol that would soon consume his life.

After a short time, Claude “Hoot” Hooten gained major celebrity in the realm of F.M. and is currently the host of the morning show at KSMA radio. Hoot has also held top rankings in several other markets.

Claude “Hoot” Hooten’s new book, “My name is Hoot, I’m an alcoholic”, will be released on April 1st. The release of the book comes during an appropriate time, as April is considered National Alcohol Awareness Month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Until then, you can find Claude “Hoot” Hooten on his official blog at www.hootsdrunkablog.spaces.live.com.  On his blog, Hoot writes, “I will now officially begin “Hoot’s Drunk-a-Blog.” Let’s share our stories, our strengths and hopes and some of the hilarious adventures we went through along the way to sobriety. In Drunk & Disorderly, Again, “My name is Hoot, I’m an alcoholic,” I reveal things that I wouldn’t even allow myself to think about, much less write into a book that you can read! Oh, by the way, I finally got 10 years and cherish every minute of it.”

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Despite the fact that the drug Vivitrol has been available in U.S. markets for over three years as a treatment for recovering alcoholics, it has yet to see any significant success in terms of an official endorsement by AA or any other major alcohol recovery organization.

Many medical practitioners attribute Vivitrol’s lack of success to various reasons.  First and foremost to the fact that most recovering alcoholics would prefer to assist “twelve steps”, alcohol counseling programs and struggle with the chance of relapsing rather than being dependent on an alternate chemical to essentially treat the first chemical they’re already addicted to.

Also, there is the issue that Vivitrol has a very limited track record and acts only as a supplement to alcohol counseling while AA’s “twelve steps”, alcohol counseling program has an extensive record of success throughout the years that has gained the utmost respect of many recovering alcoholics on the path to sobriety.

Lastly, there is the issue of money.  To date, Vivitrol sports a pricey monthly expense of $800.  For most recovering alcoholics, the world over, Vivitrol doesn’t seem like a likely supplement to group counseling because of its costly price tag.  Ultimately, the lack of Vivitrol’s success shows that when the majority of recovering alcoholics are faced with the option of a prescription drug treatment for their addiction or group counseling, the latter seems to be the much more practical choice.

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For some people, there comes a time in their lives when they may ask themselves, Am I an alcoholic? The question seems simple enough. Yet, the process that it takes to come up with a just and honest answer takes courage and the willingness to admit one’s faults.

At InTheRooms.com, they’ve developed one of the most comprehensive surveys online. The InTheRooms.com survey can help you answer the question, Am I an alcoholic? Admitting that you have a problem with alcohol abuse is one of the first steps towards recovery. At InTheRooms.com, you can find individuals, just like you, that are looking for support and someone to talk to.

Whether or not you are an addict is a question that only you can answer. However, InTheRooms.com hopes to help those suffering from alcoholism, or those who feel they may be prone to alcoholism in the future, by providing them with these valuable surveys.

If you want to find the answer to the question, Am I an alcoholic?, simply click on the “Take Survey Now” icon in this article. It’ll take you to the interactive survey at InTheRooms.com. Afterwards, feel free to take part in any one of our other surveys and join the #1 recovery community online, www.InTheRooms.com.

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Here at TheAABlog.com, we understand how important it can be to share stories of addiction with others. For those in Alcoholics Anonymous, hearing stories of other recovering alcoholics can let them know that they are not alone. The following story is by “Sally” and it is a short but personal portrayl of her struggle to stay sober.

Standing On My Own Feet

Hello, my name is Sally and I am a recovering alcoholic. It’s been 39 days and 14 hours since my last drink. I am so thankful for the people who saved my life, and for the power above that has entered my spirit, that I feel compelled to do what I can in my own way to pass the hope and will on to you.

The best way I can explain my addiction is that when I was young I used to dance in the living room of my house where I grew up. I wasn’t a very good dancer, even as a kid… I was sort of a klutz to be honest. My mother used to put the music on louder and then he would lift me up so I was standing on the toes of her shoes as she danced around the living room. It felt like I was dancing really well, but the reality is… she was dancing and letting me come along for the ride.

Somehow it feels like my whole life has been that way. It was always someone else dancing and me just standing on their shoes to come along for the ride. Sure, I often took credit for their efforts and I rarely accepted any of the blame when the music came to a crashing halt. 

That’s really what sobriety means to me. It’s about getting off of everyone else’s shoes and standing on my own feet for once. Standing up tall and proud of who I am, accepting that I may never be the best dancer… but a song I dance to in my own way is always going to be more fulfilling than just going along for the ride. You can get sober, you will need help…. I pray you see that before the music stops.

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