In 2006, one of the most prestigious scientific research organizations in the world, the Cochrane Collaboration, conducted a review of the many studies conducted between 1966 and 2005 and reached a stunning conclusion:
No experimental studies unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of AA” in treating alcoholism.
This group reached the same conclusion about professional AA-oriented treatment (12-step facilitation therapy, or TSF), which is the core of virtually every alcoholism-rehabilitation program in the country. (More at The Pseudo-science of AA)
Thank goodness, as more studies show the ineffectiveness of the old 12-Step model, new ways to support recovery are demonstrating high success rates, like SMART Recovery USA. We need many more meetings to be available all over the country, so I encourage you to take advantage of the facilitator training. It’s very informative.