Wow. Im an atheist. Im in an aa mtg room waiting for the mtg to start. No one gives me shit.

Step 2 is just accepting help. Admitting your not the one that has the all the answers. Every modern treatment ive heard of in 20 yrs either cribs aa, or eventually recommends it. Its not perfect, but I know dozens of people that are only alive because of it.

There is a ton of tacit religious dogma in a lot of American society/behavior in particular. It really shines out when you don't come from a Christian upbringing.

Daniella Young (Knitting Cult Lady) is a cult scholar talks extensively about this as well as other cults. I highly recommend her for more info on this and how terrible these groups are for anyone who is interested.

They took some anecdotal evidence from people that weren’t addicted to justify the “do it for a higher power.” People with issues (of almost any kind) more often feel shame bc they are letting the “higher power” down. It leads to disaster a lot. I love your insight.

SMART Recovery is a science-based alternative that uses Cognitive Behavior Therapy techniques. I don’t know what their success rate is, but people I know have been helped by their programs.

While I largely agree, most (not all, ofc) AA chapters will clarify that a “higher power” doesn’t have to be god. Could be fate, causality, or just the universe in and of itself - the purpose of the step is surrendering and accepting that you alone cannot resolve your addiction.

That being said, religion is pushed on you more often than not and many chapters will end with “the Lord’s Prayer” which always bothered me, along with other issues.

It’s not a perfect system, but it does work for many people and if it has helped you then all power to you (or rather your higher power, I guess)

My main gripe is that it often focuses on the symptoms rather than the root problem. Addiction is often the result of a deeper underlying condition that leads one to seek escape using substances, which then leads to physical and/or psychological dependency- be that depression, trauma, psychological conditions, etc… Treating the addiction alone can break the dependency but leaves alone the same conditions that led to substance abuse in the first place, which I believe is why you will so often see people repeatedly cycling in and out of the program.

I appreciate this post!

I've never been to a meeting, but I've always heard the only way through AA is with God. And as a lifelong atheist, I don't think that would work for me. I'd just be lying to get them to shut up lol (which would not be doing myself the real service I would need at that point).

I'm surprised there isn't a more secular AA program. I can see the appeal of AA meetings without the 12 steps piece.

What's the point of accepting a higher power? Is it so that we can just put the blame on them? Or accept our place in this grand equation? I think we can already do the latter without a god.

I'd love to read more if you do end up making a separate post!

yeah fuck that i am my own higher power

It's because they deliberately proselytize to vulnerable people at their lowest with promises of belonging and redemption.

Plus you get to say "I stay sober with the help of the Satanic Temple". Guaranteed for a fun reaction.

I did need AA to get sober. Also as an atheist, it took me quite a few meetings to find a group that aligned with that. I honestly stayed away from getting help for a long time due to my concerns with the faith aspect.

My GOD was a Group Of Drunks in a meeting that I believed in and we helped each other stay sober.

Haven't been to a meeting in five years. However I don't think I would have gotten sober eight years ago without the community I found in AA.

Still very much an atheist. Probably more so now than before.

It works for some, and good for them. For me, my health choices have nothing to do with faith, and there's no need to manufacture a big performance around sobriety, and make it my whole personality. I'd rather have and keep the quiet comfort of taking care of myself, to myself.

AA is strictly religion wrapped up with pseudo-science. I think they have worse results than not attending any program.

• https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/
• https://www.practicalrecovery.com/debunking-the-myth-about-aa/

(sexual) abuse too. this short gives three good examples: shia labeouf, jonathan majors, russell brand.

I just did a short intensive outpatient trauma program where one woman just kept bringing up her faith in a way like "I listen to the top 40 christian hymns to regulate, you should too!" and I was losing my fucking mind. I don't mind hearing about other people's faith, but I do when its pushed on me as if I didn't spend 25+ years screaming at their god begging for help with no answers. I am working toward the mindset you've described here, though. I'm saving your comment and pinning it in my journal — thank you

I strongly disagree. As someone who broadly detests religion, I know that the mere act of praying can act as self-confrontation that is otherwise inaccessible in many cases.

death is caused by overdose or medical malpractice such as refusing methadone during withdrawals. if all substances were decriminalized, the association between drugs and death would mostly go away

There are things worse than death