-> I read in the book 'The Truth About Addiction and Recovery' that the
-> success rate of AA is 2 %, a figure that quite surprised me.  But
-> when I think about it it depends on what you call success.  If it's
-> *never* having a relapse, that stat. is probably not far off the
-> mark....
With all respect, I just don't buy the extremely low figures some books
and "experts" on AA are tossing around these days; it just doesn't jibe
with my experience. I see quite a high rate of recovery locally, and I
have spent enough time both professionally and personally in the
recovery and psychiatric communities here to get a pretty good overview.
And while AA may be stronger in some cities than others, I doubt very
much there could be THAT much difference from place to place.
I am on the verge of leaving this echo again for awhile because it is
going through one of its periodic spells of being largely given over to
criticism of the program or doubts about its effectiveness, and while
I completely respect others' rights to those views, and while I also
know the program has its problems and and isn't for everyone, negativity
about it is not something I want to be spending a lot of time around or
programming my head with.  AA has been keeping this alcoholic sober and
therefore alive for nearly nine years; that's really all the
success-rate information I personally need or want.   YMMV.
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.11 
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