We the people demand one of the three following things of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.:

1. That the chapter 'The Doctor's Opinion' by Dr. William Duncan Silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the Big Book.

2. Or that it remain, but only upon the caveat that it MUST immediately be followed by (a) an explanation that Silkworth's opinion was entirely reflective of the limited scientific knowledge and progress of his era - that being the 1930s, and (b) that this definitive statement written by the titular inventor of The Sinclair Method (http://www.cthreefoundation.org/statement-by-john-david-sinclair-phd.html#.V9nbdZgrLIU must also be attached in order to accurately reflect the fact that, thanks to modern science, abstinence is NOT the only way to deal with alcohol addiction.

3. Or, failing to comply with either demand under whatever pretext, that Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc. immediately reclassify the Big Book as a work of fiction, not fact.

...Moreover, it needs to be understood by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (and for that matter any rehabilitation centre that champions AA's 12 Step model) that withholding knowledge about more effective treatment methods in favour of perpetuating questionable 1930s medical 'wisdom' is not a so-called 'outside issue' - it is homicide.

Furthermore, we would like to see your co-founder William Griffith Wilson's pamphlets on what he termed as 'the B3 Therapy' to be published in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and we would also like to see the precedent of Wilson's fascination with pharmacology to be very carefully considered in any debate on The Sinclair Method and using it as a valid adjunct to the 12 Steps (after all, failing any belief in God, why pick a rock or a doorknob when you can have SCIENCE as your Higher Power?)

Where to start? Well, since 'these are but suggestions', how about trying this on for size:

THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS USING THE SINCLAIR METHOD

1. We admitted that we had difficulty moderating our alcohol intake—that our lives had become unmanageable due in no small part to this difficulty.

2. Came to believe that a rational, compassionate scientific approach could help us to make our lives more manageable.

3. Made a decision to use the The Sinclair Method – a sensible, scientific way to attempt to reduce our alcohol intake.

4. We took stock of ourselves and examined any previous wrong-doing to others.

5. Decided which areas of our personalities and which previous wrong-doings we could take measures to correct. If need be, we approached a trained therapist or other appropriate sympathetic professional to confide with in order to help us.

6. Became ready and willing to make positive change to our lives.

7. Put our faith in science and reason.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through research, rational discussion and private contemplation ways to constantly improve our knowledge and become better, ever-evolving human beings.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.