General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Alcoholics Anonymous has a terrible success rate, addiction expert finds [View all]fujiyama
(15,185 posts)It wasn't for me. I think it does good for some who are interested in a spiritual based recovery or just need a support group and people to confide in without being outwardly judged. In that way it's effective. A lot of people in our increasingly disconnected and lonely society could use a support group - especially if the people in our lives are judgmental, dismissive, or are otherwise enablers. AA is a safe and comforting environment for many. For that it deserves credit.
I personally just could not stand the pseudo-religious "higher power" stuff. I think it's unfortunate that many don't realize there are alternatives out there or other means to quit drinking.
I also think for many like myself that have alcoholic tendencies, AA does nothing to address other underlying mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression, combined with alcohol can cause a nasty feedback loop where alcohol is simply nothing more than self medication. It's best to address that with professional mental health care.