In order to quit drinking, does a person have to go to AA? If not, what are alternatives?

Answer 1

You could try quitting on your own, it has the same success rate (5%) as AA. If you go the AA route you will be 4-5 times as likely to end up binge drinking (Brandsma study) and be more likely to die. (Vaillant study: "Not only had we failed to alter the natural history of alcoholism, but our death rate of three percent a year was appalling.")*

Here's a list of different methods, ranked by effectiveness:
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrinkTooMuch.html

Here are some different recovery groups:
SOS (Save OurSelves):
http://sossobriety.org/
SMART:
http://www.smartrecovery.org/
Women for Sobriety:
http://www.womenforsobriety.org/
LifeRing:
http://www.unhooked.com/index.htm
and Rational Recovery, which is not a group, but a method:
http://www.rational.org/

I personally was unable to stay sober using the 12step method, I bounced in and out of the rooms for almost 20 years only able to manage a few months of sobriety at a time. Five+ years ago, I quit trying to use a method that obviously did not work for me, took responsibility for my addiction and my recovery and quit using online help and support.

Answer 2

You don't have to...but it can be very helpful. A lot of alcoholics need the structure AA provides. I didn't need it, but then again I was only 21 when I quit so it wasn't as difficult.

I just found people that didn't drink to hang around with.

Edit: To the person who said "Just stop", it's not always that easy. Alcoholism is an addiction just like drugs...So unless you've personally dealt with addiction I probably wouldn't open my mouth if I were you.

Answer 3

AA is for those that don't have the will power to do it on thier own. The catch is that unless you can come up with the inner power to stop it on your own you will need the assistance and help of others to make it. AA isn't 100% insurance of quitting only the person themself has the power to make the change and keep it changed.

Answer 4

A.A. can be a lifesaver for some people. If you have tried to quit drinking or control your drinking and have continually failed, then a program like A.A. can give offer you the friendship and guidance that many people need, to quit and stay quit...which can be very difficult in our stressful world. They help you by listening to your daily struggles, offering advice, and imparting wisdom about how to live, really LIVE your life without the crutch of alcohol. The alternatives are church for some, change of environment and lifestyle for others, but if the alcoholic continues to struggle, then A.A. is a very good choice.

Answer 5

AA can be a wonderful program to help people with the problems of drinking. It helps the drinker feel needed and wanted around the people with similar problems the person does'nt feel alone. I think it helps if you work it. The program gives the alcholic a foundation to hold on too.

Answer 6

You don't have to go to AA you could get your family to help

Answer 7

in my case, i don't believe a person has to go through AA to stop drinking.... if you've got the time, I'll tell ya how i did it!!! i am now, 48 years old, had been drinking since the age of 12. i enjoyed drinking, (so i thought), and did plenty of it. A little back-ground about me... first and foremost.. i NEVER drink water from the bathroom, never have, never will, and i am/was very anal about that.(even though i know that the water runs through the same pipes), but after having three nights in one year with my head in the toilet, i realized it was time to quit. here's my story!!!
Sept of 2001, after having too many vodkas and orange juices, i found myself in the bathroom again, vomiting my head off... now mind you... i don't DRINK from the bathroom..but what i found myself doing was.... sticking my finger down my throat to vomit, then sticking my finger in the toilet, to "rinse" it off, then sticking my finger back down my throat to vomit more, then sticking my finger back into the toilet to once again "rinse" it off... as my husband stood by my side, laughing as he held my hair, telling me that i was gonna be one pissed off women in the morning when he tells me what i had done... (vomit, finger in toilet, then back in my mouth)...well i proceeded to tell him..... its OK.. I'm "rinsing"my finger where there is no vomit.... NEEDLESS to say... i have not had a drink since. i don't recommend anyone drinking themselves into oblivion to try this method out.. but i thought it may bring a smile to any ones face who reads this. its a story that my husband loves to tell people when they ask if i want a drink!!! But i have been sober for over 5 years and love every minute of it. i thought i couldn't have FUN without being drunk, but found out its better to be the one watching not the one drinking. GOOD LUCK!!!! : )

Answer 8

No
Free will

Answer 9

Just stop! You can do it, but you must WANT to do it.