Originally Posted by
sflpilot
Are you suggesting that abusers should go to AA and then report or not report to FAA? I know they would not be diagnosed, but someones presence at AA meetings indicates they are admitting they have a problem.
Potentially very bad idea. If you check "no" on 18(n) but leave a paper-trail of getting help for dependency you're volunteering for federal prison. Some folks will say "but you never had a formal diagnosis with a second-opinion from two board-certified MDs specializing in substance abuse"... good luck trying to get the FAA or the judge to buy that line, they take a very common-sense approach on this kind of stuff: if you went to AA, you knew you had a problem.
Unless you're 100% certain that AA is truly anonymous. And leave your cell phone home at home, so it doesn't show you spending an hour at the AA location two nights a week. And don't tell anyone you're a pilot.
And don't tell your spouse/SO either.
May the force be with you on that.
Frankly HIMS is the better option, unless you can google self-help and make that stick with no outside intervention.