General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Alcoholics Anonymous has a terrible success rate, addiction expert finds [View all]WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)AA doesn't have psychiatrists performing psych evals and prescribing meds. Today, tens of thousands of AAers are on psych meds. If a friend of a friend's cousin told you that she was at an AA meeting and someone said poo about medication, she can simply go to another meeting.
I'll give AA props for the following:
1. AA accepts everyone from all SES, don't need insurance or a significant bank - good luck getting help if you're poor and uninsured!
2. support group - for many, it's the first time they get to meet and talk to others with same (psych) issues; people discover they are not alone
3. program of action - people who don't take action won't fare well; most people don't want to make changes, so most people don't fare well
4. role models - people with long-time sobriety are role models for newcomers
5. you can find a meeting at all times worldwide when you need support - good luck replicating this with your treatment center...
get ready for the punchline:
YOUR TREATMENT CENTER WILL RECOMMEND AA
Maybe many of you don't travel for work or travel alone, much. It's somewhere to go when you're feeling vulnerable, either because you're lonely or your coworkers are at a bar getting hammered.