What’s Wrong With Alcoholics Anonymous?

No other addiction recovery treatment program is as widely known or as frequently recommended as Alcoholics Anonymous. While AA claims to have a high success rate, this assertion, and their 12-step philosophy, have never been scientifically proven. 

Standardized addiction treatment programs aren’t always effective for everyone, because people are so diverse. Every person is a complex individual with different backgrounds, experiences, worldviews and needs. As the recovery journey is a deeply personal one, your treatment program should ideally reflect this. 

If you’ve ever attended a meeting and felt that something was off or simply that AA doesn’t work for you, that’s okay. Because yes, Alcoholics Anonymous does have some specific issues. And as you’ll see below, though AA has helped many, it’s still a flawed system. Luckily, it’s not the only road to recovery available to you.

Alcoholics Anonymous — Addiction Recovery for Some, But Not All

Doctors, treatment centers and judges regularly recommend and send people to AA or similar 12-step programs. Alcoholics Anonymous is “prescribed” to thousands of people every day. It has become a one-size-fits-all addiction solution. In fact, it’s so common and so ingrained in our culture that hardly anyone ever questions it.

The problem with this approach is that AA becomes little more than a band-aid fix for many. If it works, it’s often a temporary solution that doesn’t last. So, whether Alcoholics Anonymous is good or bad for a person in the long run depends, but for many, it might not be the answer. 

It’s important for you to know about issues with AA and how these could potentially affect AA meetings, its members’ motives and ultimately, your recovery experience. There are many reasons why AA might not work for a particular person. Below are some of the most recognized issues with AA. 

What Are Faith-Based Recovery Programs?

Faith-based recovery programs touch on the spiritual side to encourage healing and lasting sobriety for people. 

AA’s Faith-Based Roots

AA began in 1935 as a “nonprofessional attempt to grapple with the alcoholism of its founders,” writes Lance Dodes, M.D. in his novel The Sober Truth: Debunking the Bad Science Behind 12-Step Programs and the Rehab Industry. Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, AA’s founders, were members of the Oxford Group, a fundamentalist religious organization founded in the early 1900s. The Oxford Group’s main principles directly influenced the creation of the 12 Steps, which AA is famous for. 

Though it has recently tried to promote itself as more nondenominational, AA’s religious foundation is still very evident. The clearest example of these religious roots is AA’s reliance on a “higher power.” In AA, people seeking recovery must seek help from a “higher power,” or “a power greater than ourselves,” in order to overcome their addiction. This “higher power” is typically synonymous with God, Him, religiousness or spirituality. 

The Role of Religion in AA’s Approach

Today, most AA groups encourage members to define what their personal “higher power” is, if not a deity like God. Concepts like nature, love or music are some alternative suggestions. No matter how neutral AA might try to be, prayer is still the main method of treatment. Five of the 12 Steps directly refer to God “as we understand Him.” Step 12 states that following the Steps will result in a “spiritual awakening.”

“If AA were simply presented as a religious movement dedicated to trying to comfort addicts through faith and prayer, the program would not be so problematic,” states Lance Dodes, M.D., in his novel. He writes that AA has tried to dissociate itself from the faith-based methodology it encourages.

Today, 50% of all U.S. states have declared AA to be “highly religious.” Religion and spirituality do help many people in their recovery. But faith-based addiction treatment isn’t for everyone.

What Is the Disease Model of Addiction?  

One of the other big problems with AA and most 12-step programs is that they are based on the disease model of addiction. This defines alcohol use disorder as a chronic, progressive and incurable disease. Today, this idea has been so widely promoted that it’s accepted as common knowledge and truth.

Viewing and treating addiction as a disease creates a disempowering mindset. This viewpoint subliminally tells us that we’re incapable of controlling and healing ourselves. And ultimately, it teaches us that we’re powerless to change. Many view this as a harmful aspect of AA, as people with addiction might understandably think, “What’s the point of trying if I can’t change?” Or, “Why should I try to change if I can never be healed or free from this disease?” 

Challenging the Disease Model — Emerging Scientific Perspectives

In the past few decades alone, two fields of science have given us new information on how the brain and addiction work, informing more helpful treatment methods. These are: 

Epigenetics

The study of human genes and how those genes are affected by more than DNA is called epigenetics. Today, we know that our parents are not the only factor influencing our genetic expression.

The Sanctuary’s Founder Dean Taraborelli explains: “Epigenetics says it’s a proven fact that what you think about, how you feel and what you believe in is going to affect your genetic blueprint.” What this means is that our lifestyle plus environmental factors can directly affect our genes, therefore influencing our behaviors, like substance use disorder and addiction.

Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is the science of the growth and development of new neurons in the brain. Studies of neurogenesis have proven that the brain can regenerate. In fact, our brains can even create new neural pathways that don’t include a predisposition to addiction. 

“All of these sciences point to the fact that we can get better,” says Dean. “There’s a body-mind-spirit connection. How we feel actually determines how our body is going to express itself.” Treatment programs can apply this new scientific knowledge to help us overcome our alcohol or substance use disorders. 

Reasons for 12-Step Dominance

Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Steps is the most accepted mainstream treatment program in the United States. Dodes wrote that AA and rehab are “codified into the legal system” in the U.S. and Canada as court-mandated attendance in their drug-crime policy.

If 12 Steps are outdated and unsupported by science, then why are they still the go-to addiction treatment? Potential reasons include:

Limited Early Medical Understanding

In the early 1900s, when AA began, there weren’t many medical advancements in the field of neuroscience, much less addiction. Our collective scientific knowledge of the brain and how addiction works was minimal. The first freestanding neuroscience department wasn’t founded until the 1960s, a little more than 60 years ago.

As Lance Dodes explains, at the end of Prohibition and in the middle of the Great Depression AA really “spread like wildfire.” And, “despite the absence of any scientific evidence of the approach’s efficacy,” science turned away and AA became the top treatment for addiction.

Underrepresentation of Addiction Specialists

The medical profession, in general, undervalues the science of addiction and its treatment. In the U.S., fewer than 2,500 physicians specialize in addiction medicine. 

Minimal Counselor Qualification Standards

Only six states required alcohol- and substance-use disorder counselors to have a bachelor’s degree. In 19 states, there are no license requirements for addiction counselors at all — not even a GED or introductory course.

The science behind addiction has changed. But the general format of AA and the principles taught by the 12 Steps have stayed the same for the past 80-plus years. Today, there are many evidence-based and scientifically proven alternatives to AA. They just aren’t as widely known.

Moving Past Blame — A More Compassionate Approach to Addiction Recovery

In general, if AA doesn’t work for you, people say that you only have yourself to blame. Phrases like “You’re not working the Steps enough” or “You just haven’t tried hard enough” are common. Maybe people have even said this to you before. And frankly, that’s not helpful to anyone, and it’s simply not okay.

No other field of medicine blames the patient if the treatment doesn’t work. If chemo doesn’t work for someone diagnosed with cancer, we don’t say it’s that person’s fault for not trying hard enough. In reality, doctors would try different medications or treatments to still help the person overcome the cancer. Why don’t we do the same with treatment programs for alcohol and substance use disorder? 

The “it works if you work it” mentality is fundamentally flawed. If AA doesn’t work for you, it’s not your fault – and you’re not the only one. The truth is, the 12 Steps have proven an incomplete journey for many others, too. “Why the 12-Steps aren’t effective is less important than finding something that may be more effective,” says Dean when talking about alternative addiction recovery.

Other Treatment Options

If AA doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on getting the help you need. Anyone seeking treatment outside of AA and the 12 Steps should know what alternatives there are to help them. There are many paths to recovery. We’re here to help you find the one that’s best for you. 

Evidence-based practices have become more prevalent in the last few decades. These are addiction treatments grounded in science that have shown promise in treating addiction. They are meant to help you heal from trauma and support a substance-free life. These evidence-based treatment options can include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a popular therapy that focuses on searching within yourself to find any negative thoughts or behaviors you have that might contribute to addiction. A specialist then guides you in changing these patterns.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT is all about accepting difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting against them. The therapy helps you commit to actions in line with your values, even in the face of challenging emotions. 
• Ketamine therapy: An emerging treatment, Ketamine therapy is used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. It can often be used alongside other therapies for more effective addiction treatment. For example, studies show promise in using ketamine therapy to prolong abstinence and treat acute withdrawal symptoms for opioid use disorder.

Beyond these approaches, it’s critical to find a treatment center that values your individual needs and tailors its programs to meet them. Personalized treatments consider your history of substance use, mental health, support system and personal goals. They usually use any of the above therapies for a mind-body approach, addressing any traumas you may have for a lasting recovery. 

SMART Recovery and Benefits of a Holistic Treatment Program 

SMART Recovery, or Self-Management and Recovery Training, is a science-based, secular approach to addiction recovery. Unlike AA, SMART Recovery doesn’t rely on a “higher power” or spiritual principles. It’s more about empowering you by giving you the tools and strategies to manage your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to addiction. 

SMART Recovery uses CBT and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) principles to help you be more self-reliant and in charge of your own recovery journey. Alongside these principles, a holistic treatment program can help you heal and address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of addiction. Therapies in holistic treatment programs can include:

• Yoga therapy
• Meditation
• Mindfulness practices
• Expressive art therapies
• Nutrition counseling 
• Bodywork
• Ecotherapy

Each of these therapies is meant to treat your overall well-being while supporting your healing journey. By looking deeper into the underlying reasons for your addiction and gaining more purpose and connection, holistic treatment programs can help you achieve lasting recovery and live a more fulfilling life.

The Sanctuary at Sedona is a holistic treatment center offering comprehensive support for anyone with addiction. “What we mean when we talk about being a holistic program, we talk about being a whole person — whole physically, mentally, energetic and spiritually,” explains Girvani Leerer, The Sanctuary’s Clinical Director. Complete healing within your entire being from alcohol use disorder is possible. All it takes is the desire to change and the knowledge that you can. 

The Sanctuary at Sedona — Holistic Healing for All 

Surrounded by the nurturing natural environment of Sedona, Arizona, The Sanctuary is a holistic non-12-Step treatment center for anyone struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression or trauma. What makes The Sanctuary different is that we don’t just help you face your addiction. We help you discover and begin healing the root trauma driving your desire to use substances. 

As our Program Director Kelley Alexander describes, “Trauma is anything that affects our system to the degree that it interferes with our ability to be able to process information, to be able to live life and to be able to feel good.”

We all have unresolved trauma from our pasts that affect our present. At The Sanctuary, we guide you toward healing with an integrative treatment program of diverse healing methods that evolve with you throughout your healing journey.

Contact us today to learn more about our non-12-Step alcohol addiction treatment programs. 

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