Welcome to the board Jaybee.  I would ask the poster that question and also ask them what their intention for it was.  Why they were asking that question and what their motive was for an answer.  Depending upon also the degree of addiction and the physical, mental and emotional consequences the practice might be very unproductive and maybe harmful.   Why are you interested in it?....((((Hugs)))) 

In alanon we believe that we are powerless over people, places and things. We attempt to focus on ourselves and ask ourselves the questions instead of the suffering addict as the addict is usually full of doubt and fear as it is
Creating doubt in someone who is not using is easy such as:"Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What job will pay you enough to afford to continue this life style?
Face to face meetings of naranon would be helpful

Jaybee wrote:

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Hello all. I am new to this board but not new to the program. I found this site looking for online meetings that I might attend while recovering from surgery. I was reading suggestions on how to converse with the addict in a helpful way and here is a statement that I don't really understand: " In conversations with the addict, ask questions designed to create that doubt and get the addict thinking." What would some examples of those kind of questions be?

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Welcome...so, here's my take...and you should take what you like and leave the rest... 

It is very, very difficult to communicate and engage with an addict who is intoxicated, under the influence, drunk, etc. What I think is more important is -- to check your motives. Why do you want, really and truly want, talk to the addict while they are under the influence? Be completely open and honest. I think you'll find you want to talk to them because you want to get them to stop et al.

Also, about speaking with them when they are not under the influence -- get them thinking? Create doubt? It sounds like trying to prove a point, be right, get them to stop, etc., in a somewhat covert, manipulative way. I tried that. I tried everything. Neither worked. Getting them to think could be a good thing, but I think it is still trying to apply logic to an illogical person. Even when my wife was sober and came to me -- and she wanted to talk -- and said I've had enough, never again, I won't do this ever again, and so on. End result -- no matter what I said or didn't say, her words were never followed up or congruent with her actions. She didn't run to the phone to call a rehab place. She didn't run to an AA or NA meeting.

Just my experience.

shrnp wrote:

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The statement sounds like something that is meant for a therapist or rehab specialist. Alanon is based on the AA program and it is for the self not for treating others.

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Didn't think about it that way, but I absolutely agree. Al-Anon is about taking care of, focusing on, making change, and healing...yourself. 

My experience, no matter how honest I was, when speaking with my AW, my motives were there. Somewhere. Sometimes deep down inside, sometimes right out there. LOL. Asking those types of questions can be for who knows how many reasons. Sure, get them to think. But you are powerless. They have to want it, THEM. Not me. Or, it can be me forcing my will. Lightly, and covertly, but still the same. It could be me trying to show them, make a point, prove a point, and so on. Nope, not me.

I've never had a meaningful, logical, completely open and honest conversation with an addict or alcoholic who was: a) under the influence, or, b) dry, or, c) not in recovery

I've had some very nice, connected conversations with my AW, but they were conversations with an addict. That element, the 'ism's are still there. There was not 100% honesty there...and eventually, her actions did not match her words. That's OK though...because I got better. She did, in her own way, but I got better.