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© Copyright, 1996, Rational Recovery® Systems, Inc.

RRS, Inc., grants permission for one-time printing of The Internet Crash Course on AVRT for personal use only. Hard copies may not be duplicated, photocopied, reprinted, or distributed without written permission. Electronic files may not be retained, transmitted, or posted.Addictive Voice Recognition Technique®, is not a form of counseling, therapy, group therapy, or addiction treatment. It is simply the lore of self-recovery in a brief, educational format. AVRT is not a professional tool and may not lawfully be provided by any professional person as a service to clientele. Some of the language of AVRT is protected under copyright and trademark laws.

 If you have been drinking or using today, sign off and return here during a day when you have been abstinent. Make a safe plan for detox. Here is some reasonable advice for withdrawal. You are completely responsible to protect yourself against acute withdrawal symptoms. If you are in doubt, consult with your physician.

The following 200-word description of AVRT may be enough for you to break through and end your own substance addiction, right now!

Observe your thoughts and feelings, positive and negative, about drinking or using. Thoughts and feelings which support continued use are called the Addictive Voice (AV); those which support abstinence are you. When you recognize and understand your AV, it becomes not-you, but "it," an easily-defeated enemy that has been causing you to drink. All it wants is pleasure. "I want a drink," becomes, "It wants a drink." Think to yourself, "I will never drink again," and listen for its reaction. Your negative thoughts and feelings are your AV talking back to you. Now, think, "I will drink/use whenever I please." Your pleasant feelings are also the AV, which is in control. Recovery is not a process; it is an event. The magic word is "Never," as in, "I will never drink/use again." Recognition defeats short-term desire, and abstinence soon becomes effortless. Complete separation of "you" from "it" leads to complete recovery and hope for a better life. The only time you can drink is now, and the only time you can quit for good is right now. "I will never drink/use again," becomes, "I never drink now." It's not hard; anyone can do it.


Are you starting to get it? AVRT is an insight into the nature of addiction which places you in complete control over the decision to drink or use drugs. Some people figure it out on their own, others learn by reading, as you are here, others learn better in group discussions, and others learn through skilled, personal instruction at Rational Recovery Centers. AVRT, like the Heimlich Maneuver, can save your life, is extremely simple, is based on common sense, and it's free here at the RR-Web Center.

Although AVRT is very, very simple, you have to know what you're doing, and learning it can be tricky at first. This is because your AV is determined that you will keep drinking or using, so it can survive. It is therefore ruthless in its pursuit of alcohol or drugs, but it can also be quite subtle, forceful, seductive, persistent, patient, and has many other qualities.

The disease concept of addiction is without merit on scientific grounds and as an aid to recovery from addiction. Therefore, Rational Recovery has replaced the disease model of addiction with:



 

To continue The Crash Course on AVRT, go to the above site.



The Internet Crash Course on AVRT is a public service by Rational Recovery Sytems, Inc. We want to hear from you, once you have read through the material. Tell us how you are doing with AVRT, and feel free to ask questions or comment. Just send email to icc@rational.org.

The bottom line is this: Part of you may be deeply skeptical of AVRT, Rational Recovery, the people behind RR, or of the whole idea of sudden self-recovery. When you doubt AVRT, you are only doubting yourself, and your own ability to quit your addiction, right now, and for all time. And that, of course, is your Addictive Voice, loud and clear!

The Crash Course on AVRT at this website is sufficient for some to completely recover from addiction to alcohol or drugs. For thorough learning, easy reference, or for someone you care about, get the central reading on RR: