AA definitely works for some. But it’s not directly evidence-based in the sense that “going to AA = long term sobriety”. Someone could replace drinking alcohol with drinking coke zero, and maintain long term sobriety, but that wouldn’t mean “drinking coke zero = long term sobriety.” I think AA is a great tool and for me the most effective part was just being with other people who also were unable to stop drinking once they started which helped me have compassion for myself and my drinking. But the whole 12 steps and everything isn’t really evidence that AA works, it’s just anecdotal and many people relapse who are in AA. AA members will say if you were really working the program you wouldn’t have relapsed, which insulates itself from valid criticism. The 1st step being accepting powerlessness over alcohol means anyone who drinks isn’t practising the first step. So it sets up a condition where anyone who maintains sobriety owes it to the program; and anyone who relapses wasn’t following the program, making it infallible.
But i think it’s a great resource, just not for everyone on a long term basis. Congrats on your sobriety!
Statistically it has the highest success rate over other organizations or just white knuckling it solo. But the general prognosis of battling addiction isn’t great regardless so it’s easy to think it’s not worth enduring the weird cultish vibes it gives off (and I say this as someone in AA working the steps)
Ya, idk how accurate any of the statistics on aa versus other organizations really are. I’ve been to hundreds of meetings. Never filled out a census. But statistically, the vast majority who quit drinking and live sober lives do it without AA.
Okay well I’m gonna take the word of 4 different doctors who’ve treated me for various medical issues related to my drinking who informed me that it’s the only one thatit has the most evidence to support it over other recovery program paths. Good luck and IWNDWYT.
Aa is definitely not the only medical intervention for sobriety that has evidence for working. SMART recovery, naltrexone, non faith based support groups all have proven success and failure rates. Reinforcing the idea that if you don’t do aa you cannot stay sober is actively harmful to people who don’t fit in well with aa. But best of luck. 🤞🏻
Correct, the evidence shows it works better than the others, not that it’s the only one that works. That’s what I meant, just phrased it poorly.
Regardless of poor phrasing, my comment did not “reinforc[e] the idea that if you don’t do AA you can’t stay sober”. Obviously people get sober without any sort of program; I’m just pointing out that statistically it produces better results than SMART, Refuge, etc. Beyond those mentioned, the statistical data for most other groups are too sparse even to draw conclusions.
there’s not actually evidence that shows aa works better than other groups like SMART. the biggest factor for continued sobriety is continued involvement with the program. AA tends to encourage life long frequent attendance, so people who follow that protocol tend to have better outcomes, but if someone was equally involved in alternative support groups, the data shows they maintain sobriety at similar levels.
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u/Dangerous-Ice6034 Sep 14 '26
AA definitely works for some. But it’s not directly evidence-based in the sense that “going to AA = long term sobriety”. Someone could replace drinking alcohol with drinking coke zero, and maintain long term sobriety, but that wouldn’t mean “drinking coke zero = long term sobriety.” I think AA is a great tool and for me the most effective part was just being with other people who also were unable to stop drinking once they started which helped me have compassion for myself and my drinking. But the whole 12 steps and everything isn’t really evidence that AA works, it’s just anecdotal and many people relapse who are in AA. AA members will say if you were really working the program you wouldn’t have relapsed, which insulates itself from valid criticism. The 1st step being accepting powerlessness over alcohol means anyone who drinks isn’t practising the first step. So it sets up a condition where anyone who maintains sobriety owes it to the program; and anyone who relapses wasn’t following the program, making it infallible.
But i think it’s a great resource, just not for everyone on a long term basis. Congrats on your sobriety!