How was it?
2006-12-12 17:07:45 · 8 answers · asked by dispatchokirt 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I attended meetings on and off for almost twenty years and found them not only unhelpful, but harmful. I never managed more than a few months sobriety at a time. AA taught me that I was powerless over alcohol, that I had a disease, and only AA could help, all great excuses to continue drinking.
AA is a thinly disguised religious program; they may claim "spiritual, not religious" but every time the matter has come before a higher court, the outcome has been that AA is at least "religious in nature" and mandated attendance violates the Establishment Clause.
AA has a 5% success rate, the same as no treatment at all, AND has a higher MORTALITY rate. Harvard researcher and AA Board of Trustees member, George Vaillant, in an attempt to prove that AA works, ran what was probably the largest and longest study. He published his findings in his book "The Natural History of Alcoholism: Causes, Patterns, and Paths to Recovery" where he stated, "Not only had we failed to alter the natural history of alcoholism, but our death rate of three percent a year was appalling."
It wasn't until I turned my back on AA five years ago and took responsibility for my own recovery that I was finally able to put down the bottle.
2006-12-13 03:52:57 · answer #1 · answered by raysny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
I don't drink, but I attended an AA meeting with my mom and a friend when I was in high school to do a report. The meeting was not that bad. People smoked a lot, so we left the meeting with very smoky clothes, but it was pretty much what you would think it would be.
2006-12-12 17:10:17 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, is really boring, but they can tell you some stories that would keep your mouth open.. I had to attend one section for school and learn a lot about the drinking and driving consequences and the just getting drunk problems. It was a good learning experience.
2006-12-12 17:13:57 · answer #3 · answered by ngrita22 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my friend was caught at the wrong place/wrong time and had to attend 6 sessions. he said its boring...members coach each other on being positive on life and that you don't need alcohol to have a good time. basically its just a support group
2006-12-12 17:11:44 · answer #4 · answered by trish 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes i went with my husband! no problem, meet some very positive people some were very Nervous, when were ask if they care to make a comment! but u don't have to make one if ur choices not too!
2006-12-12 17:22:20 · answer #5 · answered by Kas-O 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes.... it is not as bad as you might think... most ppl there are feeling the same way you are and you can get a lot of very good support from them... you never know a lot of them may become lifelong friend's.
2006-12-12 17:11:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The meeting are hard as hell....because you have to face yourself and reality.
2006-12-12 17:12:32 · answer #7 · answered by renton_scotsgirl 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No
2006-12-12 17:09:35 · answer #8 · answered by Pantherempress 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋