The Gist Katie Herzog Is the Kind of Person Who Googles Recidivism Rates in an AA Meeting
18 snips
Nov 14, 2025 
Katie Herzog, a journalist and co-host of Blocked and Reported, shares her journey with alcohol addiction and how she found hope through the Sinclair Method and naltrexone. She discusses the inadequacies of traditional AA meetings and the concept of 'rock bottom.' Herzog reveals how naltrexone disrupts the rewarding effects of alcohol and why its treatment approach differs from detox-centric methods. Additionally, she explores how making sobriety non-conditional can help those seeking recovery while delving into the broader implications of addiction.
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Half‑Hearted AA Participation
- Katie Herzog attended AA meetings intermittently for nearly 15 years but never fully engaged with a home group or sponsor.
- She disliked identifying as an alcoholic and resisted the 12-step concept of powerlessness.
AA During COVID And Personal Limits
- Katie tried Zoom meetings during COVID when her drinking accelerated and found storytelling in meetings compelling.
- She never committed to a sponsor or home group and disliked the ritualistic self-identification.
Medication Disrupts The Alcohol Pleasure Loop
- Naltrexone is an opioid blocker approved for alcohol use disorder that reduces the endorphin rush some people get from drinking.
- Repeatedly drinking on naltrexone can extinguish the learned pleasure link so people gradually stop wanting alcohol.
