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Contents 1 My Way Out 2 History 3 The Program 4 The Controversy 5 Further Reading

[edit] My Way Out

My Way Out ([1]), Patent Pending, was founded in 2003 by Roberta Jewell, a pen name (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen_name), to provide a multi-faceted solution for the control of early-stage alcoholism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism) and problem drinking. The program is considered an alternative or supplemental approach to Alcoholics Anonymous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholics_Anonymous) and other 12-step programs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12-step). Contrary to these programs, My Way Out is administered in a private environment.

My Way Out integrates several activities and drug treatments including regular exercise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise), hypnotherapy, vitamins, minerals and routine topiramate administration. As other medications controlling alcohol cravings are introduced, the program is reevaluated, revised and restructured accordingly. Self-administered under the supervision of one’s personal physician, My Way Out promotes a lifestyle that can include moderate, responsible alcohol consumption.

The program has been featured in articles by the Wall Street Journal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_street_journal) and Newsweek Magazine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek).

[edit] History

Author, Roberta Jewell, a self-identified problem drinker, traces her abuse issues to her college years. She began as a social, weekend drinker, later marrying a man who viewed and used alcohol in similar ways. During the next several years, the couple gave birth to three children. Jewell restricted alcohol during the first trimester of each pregnancy, limiting herself to infrequent wine or cocktails.

Drinking was a dominant part of her life, as her tolerance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_tolerance), and the stress of her career and newfound parenting responsibilities, escalated. Alcohol consumption started to interfere in her life and work. Like many, however, Jewell did not feel comfortable labeling herself an alcoholic.

As an avid researcher, Jewell studied alcohol recovery treatments and medications. In 2003, she discovered the early results of clinical research for the oral medication, topiramate1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topiramate), manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortho-McNeil_Neurologics), a division of Johnson & Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_%26_Johnson). She purchased the drug online, following the exact administration schedule outlined by clinical trial and developed by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_Health_Science_Center).

While unsuccessful alone, Naltrexone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naltrexone) curbed her alcohol cravings when used in conjunction with a multi-faceted approach. The other program elements included highly customized, self-administered hypnosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis) and a specific regiment of nutritional supplements including vitamins, minerals, and the anti-craving herb, kudzu2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu). A light program of regular exercise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise) is also recommended.

Today Jewell continues her research into new drug treatments shown to curb alcohol cravings. Her recent research focuses on Naltrexone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naltrexone), Campral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campral), Baclofen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baclofen) and Acomplia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acomplia). Jewell, along with many addiction specialists, believe a combination of anti-craving medications may be more useful to patients. She discusses each medication along with other news in her blog (http://www.mywayout.org/blog/) and patients publicly report their progress with various medication on her online forum (http://www.mywayout.org/community). Program updates are also published on the My Way Out website at http://www.mywayout.org/important-program-updates.htm.

[edit] The Program

The My Way Out program includes four steps, detailed at length in the book ‘My Way Out’, with a forward by Linda Garcia, M.D., the program’s Medical Director.

These are:

Step One: Six weeks of a combined vitamin, mineral, amino acid and herb therapy formulated specifically to address detoxification, craving and dependence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence) reduction.

Step Two: One month of home-based, daily behavior modification hypnotherapy sessions. This includes subliminal and sleep recordings produced specifically for program participants.

Step Three: Twelve weeks or more of topiramate or other anti-craving drug administration.

Step Four: Light exercise including 15 to 20 minutes of physical activity three times per week.

After six weeks, vitamin consumption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin) is reduced to a nutritional powder, found in most grocery store health food sections or on the Internet. A continued program of light exercise and a healthy diet promote permanent alcohol moderation or abstinence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstinence).

[edit] The Controversy

While successful and popular, the My Way Out program has been criticized by some in the recovery movement who have concerns that excessive drinkers can never consume alcohol moderately. Nevertheless, the author makes no claims toward the effectiveness or appropriateness of her treatment plan for medium and late-stage alcoholics. The author also believes that a harm reduction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm_reduction) approach is valid for those who refuse to quit drinking completely.

See Also

Adult Children of Alcoholics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Children_of_Alcoholics) Alcohol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol) Alcohol consumption and health (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_consumption_and_health) Alcoholism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism) Alcoholics Anonymous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholics_Anonymous) Blood alcohol content (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content) Drunkenness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunkenness) Standard drink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_drink) Substance Abuse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse)

References

1. Oral topiramate for treatment of alcohol dependence: a randomised controlled trial by Bankole A Johnson, Nassima Ait-Daoud, Charles L Bowden, Carlo C DiClemente, John D Roache, Kevin Lawson, Martin A Javors, Jennie Z Ma. (http://prism.yale.edu/Templates/TG%20class/Lecture%202%20(Petrakis)/Johnson%20et%20al.%20(2003%20ver2)%20Lecture2.pdf)

2. “Kudzu Extract Reduces Alcohol Consumption by Heavy Drinkers” by Becky Ham, May 16, 2005. (http://www.hbns.org/news/kudzu05-16-05.cfm)

[edit] Further Reading

Abbot, L., Magnesium deficiency in alcoholism …, Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 18:1076-1082, 1994.

Alcoholics Anonymous, The Big Book, 4th Edition

Addressing Alcoholism with Diet and Nutrition (http://www.holistichelp.net/alcoholism.html)

ALL ONE Supplement Powder (http://www.all-one.com/mywayout.htm)

Elisaf, M., Hypomagnesaemia in alcoholic patients, Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 22:244-246, 1998.

Invited interview by Michael Dresser with Roberta Jewell, May 22, 2005 (http://www.mywayout.org/rj-interview.htm)

Johnson, et al., The Lancet, 361:1677-1685, 2003.

Hypnotictapes.com (http://www.hypnotictapes.com)

Jewell, R, My Way Out: One woman’s remarkable journey in overcoming her drinking problem …, Capalo Press, Anchorage Alaska, 2005.

Lukas,, S.E., et al, An extract of the Chinese herbal root kudzu reduces alcohol drinking by heavy drinkers in a naturalistic setting, Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 29:756-762, 2005.

Moderation Management (http://www.moderation.org)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)

Orman, D.J., Reframing of an addiction via hypnotherapy: a case presentation, American Journal of Clin Hypnosis, 34:69, 1991.

Pekala,, R, et al., Self-hypnosis relapse prevention training with chronic drug/alcohol users …, American Journal of Clin Hpnosis, 46:281-297, 2004.

Roe, DA, Preventing B vitamin deficiencies in alcoholics, Alcohol Health and Research World, Summer, 1989.

Sinyor D, et al., The role of a physical fitness program in the treatment of alcoholism, J Stud Alcohol. (3):380-6, 1982

The Lancet information search for ‘oral topiramate alcohol dependence’ (http://www.thelancet.com)

External Links

My Way Out official website ([2])