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“You’re An ‘Alcoholic” — And Other Myths That AA Perpetuates
Why the 90-year-old program desperately needs updating
I’ve been a vocal critic of AA, but in case you haven’t read any of my previous articles, let me take a second to tell you why:
Alcoholics Anonymous — the most widely known and used support group for alcohol abuse — has an 8–12% success rate by its own best guess estimates.
That’s something the average person is not aware of.
It’s also the foundation for roughly 90% of the rehabs in the US and utilized by most state courts.
When 90% of the recovery system uses one program with an 8–12% success rate — that’s an issue.
The need for multiple methods of recovery — therapy, medications, secular support groups, etc. — promoted equally is paramount if we are ever to see the sobriety success rate climb.
I may be a foolish optimist, but it can be done. Provided enough people speak up.
