“Maybe They’re Not A Real Alcoholic?”

And other myths that AA perpetuates

I’ve been to enough AA meetings (thousands) to know that if someone quits drinking without the program and an AA member hears about it, the first thing they will say is, “They must not have been a real alcoholic.”

I used to buy into that nonsense, but the truth is that most people who quit drinking do it on their own.

That fact is not something you’re likely to hear at an AA meeting.

Most Common Ways People Quit Drinking:

1. Cold Turkey / On Their Own (a.k.a. “Natural Recovery”):

Percentage: Roughly 50–60% of people who quit drinking long-term do it without formal treatment or AA.

These individuals may use personal motivation, lifestyle changes, support from friends/family, or self-help resources.

2. Support groups (like Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, etc):

Percentage: About 20–30% of people who successfully quit long-term credit their support group as key.

3. Professional Treatment (Inpatient/Outpatient Rehab, Therapy, Medications):

Percentage: Around 10–20% use formal treatment programs, often alongside or following a crisis, court order…