You are correct - AA doesn't have a monopoly on recovery, Bill Wilson knew that in 1939 when Alcoholics Anonymous was published.

I believe the majority of people relapse regardless of their chosen route to sobriety because they are not yet ready to quit drinking for real and are not prepared to put for the effort required to achieve long term sobriety.

I think it is also important to define a relapse. Is a relapse a complete departure from attempts at sobriety? Is it a case of "I've been in recovery for 6 months but I choose to continue or resume drinking as my preferred lifestyle? Or do you define a relapse as any occasion when one in recovery takes a drink?

I went to my first AA meeting in 1989. I was 25 and I knew I had a problem with drinking too much, but I wasn't ready to quit drinking. Is that a relapse?

I next went to AA in the mid-90's. I got sober and maintained that sobriety for about 3 years. But abstinence wasn't working for me, so I choose to return to the alcohol. I guess you could say I "relapsed".

In 2000, my life was a mess. I was divorced, lost custody of my children, I was suicidal, chronically alcoholic. I was convicted of a DUI and was sexually assaulted. I went to two treatment centers, was admitted to a psych ward, tried acupuncture and hypnosis and still drank.

In 2001, I once again tried AA. I was ready to stop drinking. I had no other option - my life was shit. After a few more "relapses" I put together 2 years of sobriety. I had regained custody of my children, became employable again, and even re-married. Life was good. But unable to deal with the stress of my husband's major depression, I chose to drink again. For a 5-6 week period, I wasn't drinking to access, but I drank on about 1/2 dozen ocassions. So I guess another relapse.

July 3, 2004 I was preparing for a big 4th of July party. And I drank and I got shit-faced. That night I went to yet another AA meeting. And I have been sober ever since.

So, you see, I have a long history of relapsing in AA. I guess AA is an abject failure when it comes to recovery from alcoholism, right? Especially when you look at my rate of relapse while a "card carrying" member of AA.

Or maybe I just wasn't ready until I was ready. Then AA was 100% effective.

There are numerous options available for one to quit drinking and achieve sobriety. Secular, non-secular approaches, 12-step based, medically supervised methods, numerous books (most available online), treatment centers, holistic approaches, you name it. But the one thing any of these recovery options all have in common is that you must want to quit drinking and you must "work" the program, regardless of the program. And honestly, some of us didn't "want" to quit the alcohol, but we knew we had to quit in order to save our lives. And we worked our program.

I went through an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) and at times, It was VERY intensive because I was treated for the underlying problems that triggered my addiction. Regular attendance at AA meetings were a requirement and this is true of every hospital IOP, I know of, in the USA, so you are right...I guess AA does have a monopoly but it may be because....like it says in the literature. It works if you work it.

One of my counselors told me, "We can throw everything at you but the kitchen sink! The rest is up to you!"

My own opinion is, that any treatment plan will work, if you believe it will work and if you use the tools they teach you for staying sober. It's whatever resonates with you... Follow your heart bro!

God Bless

Horses for courses. If a person is willing to go to any lengths to get sober they can. AA is the same. What I like about AA, it has a means for being happy about it.

Life long recovery rate for alcoholism, regardless of modality, is slim. It's mainly a high rate at the beginning, which diminishes as the years build up.

The problem is thinking that they are cured, as if they were never an alcoholic before. Also, happy sobriety means life is better than having the need for a drink. If they want to be merrier, they do so through their own sense of humour, and not by some chemical. In this regard, the real problem is thinking you need a drink in the first place.

If AA is not your thing, then try something else. Why take an opinion poll?

Did AA give me the power to stop drinking? I don’t know.

What it did give me was accountability, honesty and living a life that in no way resembles the life I led before AA.

I was 40 living like an 18 year old. Nothing changed me. I was selfish and egotistical and a huge narcissist.

Drinking was a symptom of that behavior. Also had nobody in my life that I admired, and if I did, I didn’t have a close relationship with them.

AA didn’t just get me sober, it made me a better person. I’m a better husband, father, employee, friend, son, brother, etc.

You decide if it’s right for you or not.

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn’t matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.
Hindu teaching

thanks for sharing everyone. Bill in New Jersey

Good topic. I go to AA and Refuge Recovery meetings, both offering step programs. This was important to me, since abstinence alone wasn't holding. I needed to work on the root cause of my drinking and drug abuse., which these programs offer.

Admittedly, it took several different AA meetings before I found one that worked for me, wasn't too fundamental Christian in approach, open to my beliefs as a Buddhist, and wasn't dominated by 20+ year members who loved the sound of their own voice, while those who really need support remained quiet in their chairs. I also like having the support and providing support to others in need. This is important for my recovery. I'm a loner by nature, internally focussed, and coming out of my shell to tell my story, remain accountable and be their for others, has been an important part of my 15 months of recovery. In the end, I don't care how anyone gets sober, as long as it works! Just my dos centavos!

I agree there are soooo many people on here that default to "go to an AA meeting" as an answer for pretty much any problem. But, its their solution, and I know they are just trying to give advice that works for them in hopes it will work for others.

People also get very defensive of AA....but it isn't that AA works or doesn't work. We all are responsible for our own successes and failures on AA.

With that said I don't think I've ever met someone who tried to quit drinking and didn't relapse, whether they gave AA a chance or not. When we relapse we learn things about ourselves and hopefully learn a better way to stay sober the next time.

I loved AA when I went....the stories I heard moved me so much and the people are just so honest and willing to selflessly help complete strangers. I have never experienced anything like it. And, having been through such terrible things, some of them have more positivity than I see in most. But, I think a lot of tactics work for different people. I haven't been to an AA meeting in a few years. I've been sober over 21 months. I read the big book and other daily devotional books to keep me thinking about sobriety. I volunteer to stay purposeful and I meditate and do yoga to destress and stay mindful. At the end of the day I pray and try to think about things I'm grateful for.

I'm sure it all helps, but I think everyone's answer to maintaining sobriety is different. My advice is just try everything, give anything a fair shot, and see what works.

Best of luck.

I dont think aa works. I dont think inpatient or outpatient works. I firmly believe God Works. I dont believe in Jesus and I won't Bible thump, but the reason aa only works for those who work it is the ability to believe in true Works. He/She/They Work in ways we cannot and, without those Great Works, there is no peace. Without peace is it really a relapse or just a refusal to be Worked on and Worked through?

I do not like the idea of being required to be in any program like aa. I dont think it benefits the group and the main precept of group recovery is i am my brothers keeper. To fill it with those forced to be there not only waters down the strength of the whole, it also negatively impacts the statistics used to measure "success".

I’m still a fat ass. We’ll i guess exercising doesn’t work. Or perhaps it’s because I sruff my face with pizza? You mean I have to change the way I eat too?

I read the AA book but didn't give it an honest attempt... I didnt feel like a true alcoholic; but I am a problem drinker.

I didnt find it worked for me but I believe it's more than religion or the 12 steps, I believe it is a way to show people how to shift their thinking by using a higher power... You really have to believe in it for it to work. If you have doubts the entire time, it probably won't work. That's why it's usually people's last option, when they have lost everything else.

I always hear people debating things about A.A. It works for some and if it doesn't move on until you find your way.

Keto and whole 30 and weight watchers and Jenny Craig and even liposuction don’t work.

AA is a really good tool that works for a lot of people. It is like a vise-grip....not very precise, but will get one part of the job done much of the time. AA is certainly not the only tool and for some it isn’t a helpful one at all (or they just aren’t ready for what it can do).

AA has saved countless lives and helped millions of people learn to live a more authentic life.

So... what does work?