I discussed this with a talk show host recently, here is the link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/mcconnell-020207-hr-3-mp3.html

Its a good place to get sober if you have alcohol issues...be careful of the 13th steppers.

Thank god it was started. People needed to talk about alcoholism and not feel isolated and alone. That shared, I think it encourages self loathing.

AA and NA both are programs that are for people willing to admit they had a problem and who want to go farther toward solving that problem. Some people get a lot out of it, some don't. I had a lot of peaceful times in meetings without getting the help I needed. But AA/NA sometimes makes you wonder what you're doing there. And if that gets on the right track, then it works. If you might have a problem, you probably do. Get help!

It has its place in society, and if helps alcoholics (which i believe it does) then it is a good thing.

I think its wonderful! It gives alcoholics a different way of life. But they have to be willing to follow some suggestions for it to work. You cant get it by osmosis, it takes work.

I've heard that there are thousands of people who have been helped by AA. I also know of some who say it hasn't helped them. On balance, it appears to be a valuable organization for some people.

I think it is a wonderful organization. It helped me and so many other people that I know who were on their last legs and for whom continuing to drink meant certain death. AA is not for everyone. And it does have a very strong spiritual component - not religion per se because it is not tied to one specific form of belief but there are numerous references to God. I disagree that it encourages self-loating; I believe it promotes self-acceptance. It does require a certain degree of self-examination and reflection which is difficult, but it allows the alcoholic to see where they hurt others and allows them to med their ways and change and grow. That is invaluable.

I think it makes me want a drink. Number one... Believing you are powerless over anything is not in my vocabulary. I know it works for many, but I wouldn't be going there.

It's a cult that has helped some people and hindered others.

I've struggled w/ drug addiction in my life. The only person who can get you sober is YOU. All this sick and tired of being sick and tired, or One day at a time stuff, doesn't mean a thing unless you make the effort to get better. It's cultish to me. But hey. Whatever floats your boat.

Even though the success is not a high as it use to be.( because of dual addictions now days it is still the best way to get sober and it's free.

I think it's the biggest load of crap. It FORCES you to accept a religion you may not want to, which has nothing to do with drinking.

I am sure it must have helped a lot of people not everyone is going to be a success story but I know a few that are.

If your sick and tired of being sick and tired then the AA program will work.

It certainly provides anyone with a drinking problem an opportunity to explore the option. Probably works for some, not much help to others. But wouldn't you think anything that helps anyone to be and stay sober is a good thing?

I think quitters should always reveal their identities , so the government can up their taxes.

I think it is funny there was this club that i was in and next door they told me was an aa meeting group office and they would hang out and drink outside the door, i thought there was a party going on over there they told me know that is a a and i went over there to check it out and they were really friendly and had papper bags with drink inside.

i wish it wasn't always associated with christianity - only because it pushes the non christians away even though they may want to get sober but not necessarily become a christian. but the program itself does help and the intention of those in charge are great people with immense compassion in their hearts for those who need some sort of direction but you can only help those who want to be helped. power is limited as always

OK, here is the deal. I had some liver issues a few years back, I have a disease where my liver will not process toxins. I never drank heavily but I drank. I was told by a doctor I was going to die. So I stopped drinking. I was put on a list of potential liver transplant recipients, and one of the criteria was that I needed to attend AA meetings. I went to one, and only one. AA is a method of shifting one addiction to another. I was able to just stop drinking. Others need to have an addiction. I know people that it has helped. I also saw in the one meeting I went to people that were just pissed off because they were there because of a court order. There were a few people that it really seemed to work for, the sponser thing is great. There were some people you could tell were there because they had the victim mentality. I'm an athiest, and I do not accept that there is a god (and yes, they do refer to god in the literature). I was told that I could use any word to replace the word god, the suggestion was "dog". As long as I admit that I have no control over myself and that there is a higher power that has control. I have control, I just stopped drinking, I didn't need it. I left religion years ago for many reasons. If it works for you, do it. I had more reasons not to go than to go.

Not all alcoholics need AA, sometimes it is the last house on the street. I know several people that kicked the habit and never drank again. One did not believe in God but until his death 37 years after he quit he had never drank again. AA is not the only way but sometimes it is the way.

It's fer quitters!

Alcoholics Anonymous is a wonderful effective recovery program that changed my life. I have new friends in recovery and we can have more fun without drugs and alcohol. That gives us tremendous joy. We drug addicts saw the only way out as death when we were using so you can imagine what a relief it was when we discovered a solution. The fellowship can be described as the feeling you would have toward a fellow passenger on a lifeboat while the two of you are watching the big ship go down. It is an irreversible bond. I wish every person could experience this just once in their life.

it works if you work it

Some of the answers I've read here are interesting. A lot of psychologist say that AA is no good and is a cult. It's hard for them to say a bunch of drunks can help someone that they can't. The lowering of the success rate in AA is not so much because of dual-addiction but for all the crap brought into AA from the recovery centers. What worked so well the the 30's and 40's was not broke but people seemed to just have to fix it, thus success dropped. People sit around the tables of AA and tell war story's, hell I know how to get drunk. I want to stay sober and new people want to learn how to get sober and live life on life terms. When you talk about recovery, people get recovered. When all you talk about is getting drunk then sooner or later you will get drunk. Well I guess I'll get off my soap box.

There arent enough words to express how wonderful it is. It's like a dream...and it's free!

If AA helped only one human being EVER, wasn't it still worth it??

free coffee...

AA works if you work at it...it wont if you dont.........

AA, worked for me when I needed it... and I know it will always be there for me and anyone that needs support! It’s a great place to share.. and not get "looked" at or judged! People with a disease get judged enough, and aa is a place where you don’t get judged on that, you can share, and say WOW I am not the only one... It reminds me why I don’t drink, it brings me back to a place I NEVER want to see again... I worked my steps (it really helps with daily life too) Do what you feel is best for you.. and don’t worry the Higher Power is "As you know it" If that meeting didn’t float your boat… there are SO many more!

I have known many people in AA who still struggle. One of my friends has gone through a remarkable program in CO that uses IVs. He had NO cravings and has been sober for a few years now. Check out this site for all the great stuff that they do!! www.noraa.org

It is for Quitters :)

I has been my experience that self loathing is what brings real alcoholics to AA and when that is the impetus for attending the success rate is over 50% (of the ones who came and really tried).

Of all the methods of treatment out there, it's one of the worst and frankly too cult like for my liking.

I think its funny that the first thing out of most people's mouth there is thier name

AA IS A CLIQUE WITH PEOPLE IN CHARGE THAT THINK THEY ARE AT THE CENTER OF AA. MOST AA MEMBERS SMOKE AND STINK FROM CIGARETTES. AA IS KIND OF LIKE A DISTORTED AND PERVERTED RELIGION WITH VERY JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE. DO IT THEIR WAY OR ELSE BE OUSTED FROM THE CLIQUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY MEMBERS OF AA ARE EX CRACK HEADS ALSO. YOU ARE MUCH BETTER OFF IN A CHRISTIAN AA IN MY OPINION WHERE THERE IS NO DEBATE ABOUT GOD AND HIS SON.

AA IS A CLIQUE WITH PEOPLE IN CHARGE THAT THINK THEY ARE AT THE CENTER OF AA. MOST AA MEMBERS SMOKE AND STINK FROM CIGARETTES. AA IS KIND OF LIKE A DISTORTED AND PERVERTED RELIGION WITH VERY JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE. DO IT THEIR WAY OR ELSE BE OUSTED FROM THE CLIQUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY MEMBERS OF AA ARE EX CRACK HEADS ALSO. YOU ARE MUCH BETTER OFF IN A CHRISTIAN AA IN MY OPINION WHERE THERE IS NO DEBATE ABOUT GOD AND HIS SON.