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  - Does Alcoholics Anonymous…
    
    Dry January has become increasingly popular, practiced by a quarter of Americans last year, and provides individuals a collegial and open path for reconsidering their alcohol consumption. For almost two million people worldwide who have committed to staying sober for a lifetime, the group known as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and its 12-step plan has been a prominent lifeline. But is it the best approach for curbing alcoholism, and does it address its root causes? Those who say AA is invaluable emphasize the merits of its peer-driven, community-based approach. They also point out that membership is free, only requiring a desire to stop drinking. Opportunities for fellowship can be found nearly anywhere, even in communities with limited access to healthcare or treatment facilities. Those who say there might be a better way to sobriety argue that AA’s long-term success rates vary widely. They also note equity issues and note concerns with the program’s focus on abstinence rather than moderation. They say other therapies and interventions, such as harm reduction therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, would help those who may not succeed in the program. Now with this background and in Dry January 2025, we debate the question: Does AA Work?
    
    Friday, January 3, 2025
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Kurt Volker

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO

former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine

Kurt Douglas Volker is a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine. He also served as executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership. He is considered a leading expert in U.S. foreign and national security policy with some 30 years of experience in a variety of government, academic, and private sector capacities. He has taught transatlantic relations at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.

Debates Featuring Kurt Volker

Agree to Disagree: Ukraine

With Emma Ashford, Kurt Volker

March 11, 2022

As escalation ratchets higher between Russia and the west over Ukraine, Open to Debate examines a core question: Is a confrontation with Russia worth it? And what effects have sanctions really wrought? Kurt Volker, a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former Special Representative for Ukraine, argues that defending Ukraine is very much in the west’s security interest. Emma Ashford of the Atlantic Council argues that it is not. And yet both acknowledge that for Russia, the stakes may be…

Agree to Disagree: Ukraine

As escalation ratchets higher between Russia and the west over Ukraine, Open to Debate examines a core question: Is a confrontation with Russia worth it? And what effects have sanctions really wrought? Kurt Volker, a…

With Emma Ashford, Kurt Volker

March 11, 2022

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