As the author of a book where I spell out how I quit drinking first by including attending AA meetings and concluding by not attending AA meetings, I am constantly struggling along with others as to whether you must go to AA or not. I can no longer "ride the fence" on this question. I have been thrust into making a public decision about my stance on Alcoholics Anonymous once and for all. Admittedly, I can't teater any longer on my position. Lots of people read or listen to this blog and for some reason that is the topic that gets the most attention.

My Final Answer:
It's better to quit WITH AA, but if you don't go to meetings, incorporate the AA basics into your own routine. That said, you must know what the basics of AA are in order to follow them and learn.

AA is absolutely a mindset where you must accept that a power greater than yourself is the path to restoring your life.  Now, whether you do that on your own or with meetings is the difference. The one absolute that I am sure of, is that learning to have Faith and Trust in God is what saved me and will save anyone who really wants to win.

This topic is on my mind a lot. I am a born again Christian first and foremost, and I will never deny in the slightest bit God's power in my own recovery. I also can't deny the learning I received from AA's 12 step meetings.

So, if you're asking yourself the question, "do I have to go to AA" and you're trying to quit drinking, the answer is "No, you don't have to go to AA." You do have to learn what it is about Alcoholics Anonymous that consistently brings alcoholics back from what appears to be a completely doomed life. So it's a catch 22. You also must consider that you are stronger with support than on your own.

So, finally, I'm going to give an alternative. I'll make up a group similar to AA, that is stripped of the areas that people don't like, and yet keeps the parts that must be there to win.

I'll call it the Simply Quit Drinking group. Let's define some terms quickly:

Simply - means wholly, completely, and absolutely

Club - a club is defined as "a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose"

Now, if some people could just say what parts of AA they don't like, we can pull them out as long as they are not part of the core purpose.

Some say "it's like a cult". Definition of "cult" from websters.com and dictionary.com:

Cult - "a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies"

OK. I have a minor in Sociology, but I'm not going there right now.

So it looks to me like this, if you reduce or pull out the rites and ceremonies, as well as "worship" then it's not a cult. What does that mean for our group?

We discuss all areas of quitting drinking, acknowledge a higher power, though we worship on our own time, not with the group; and we don't have any rites or ceremonies. No picking up chips, no specific order to a meeting, you don't have to get a sponsor, etc.

In particular, I personally don't want to say "Hi, I'm Karen, and I'm an alcoholic" before I speak at a group discussion. You can accomplish acknowledging this on your own, deep in your heart, so you don't have to profoundly label yourself before you're aloud to talk.  (If I did that, I might go through my whole day thinking that I'm an alcoholic... when I'm not one today.)

Alcoholic - a person suffering from alcoholism (in the dictionary)

I am not suffering any longer. I'm just not suffering. Period.

Alcoholism - a chronic disorder characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages

I am not dependent on alcohol for anything; I do not use alcohol, or use it repeatedly, for anything.

A strong part of my belief  is that I do NOT EVER call myself a "recovering alcoholic". Why? I can't get passed the feeling and mindset that comes along with that label. I am not still recovering. I have recovered. I'm not still going through the process of recovering from alcoholism. When does the "process of recovering" end? Let each person decide for themselves. I won't spend my life being a victim of alcohol by giving it power and saying that I'm "still under the gun," haven't crossed over the mountain top, can't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel...

I think of it more as "I came, I saw, I conquered." Thank the Lord, and let's go have a great day and be thankful! Why live in the past, when you can live better right now, today! You define yourself.