AA’s “Big Book” has essentially remained the same since 1939! That’s ignoring almost 90 years of medical, cultural, and societal advancements in addiction recovery.

AA’s fundamental concept of a sponsor is strange to many, and dangerous for a number of reasons including lack of qualifications, pressure from the organization, and lack of oversight.

You are unique – The AA program’s structured approach may not suit everyone’s needs or preferences. Some people may prefer more flexibility or a different style of support.

If you’ve been to AA meetings, you’ll find that they’re not really very anonymous. In fact, many ‘old-timers’ who have been in the program for years actively disregard this importance.

Cults prey on individuals that are deparate and have lost everything. While AA is ‘supposed’ to be based on the principle of attraction vs promotion – it rarely feels that way.

AA is a peer-led organization rather than a professional treatment program, which may raise concerns about the qualifications and expertise of those leading meetings.

Some individuals may resist the idea of surrendering control to a higher power or accepting their powerlessness over alcohol, which are central tenets of AA’s philosophy.

Some people may feel stigmatized by the label of “alcoholic” and may resist participating in a program that emphasizes this as their primary identity – there is more to us than addiction.

AA’s strict adherence to the 12-step program, the concept of a higher power, and rejection of outside literature may not suit everyone’s needs or preferences.

Some people may feel stigmatized by the label of “alcoholic” and may resist participating in a program that emphasizes this as their primary identity – there is more to us than addiction.