Do I recommend AA or NA ?

I attend a small meeting for people recovering from addictions at a local Catholic Church (No, I am not Catholic). On Wednesday I was asked by someone new if I recommend Alcoholics Anonymous. I don’t think I have ever addressed that question here.

No, I don’t recommend Alcoholics Anonymous to people anymore. Since 1976 I have attended literally thousands of meeting of both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

The general principles of the 12 steps are, for the most part, sound.Early AA was a good thing even if not all the ideas presented were true. However modern AA has become something else. AA as an organization has become tolerant of homosexuality. You only have to look at the General Service Office website and read the story “Tightrope” in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous to see it. I realize for some people Alcoholics Anonymous is a stage of their spiritual journey and does provide some limited benefit. But for many others AA just becomes a social club, and they are addicted to the friendships and comforts they find there. I think it is highly unlikely that anyone is going to find sound spiritual direction and instruction in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. And that is why I wont recommend it to people.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather see people there than out driving in their cars drunk.But I would rather people find the spiritual awakening talked about in the steps, but which is rarely found in AA these days in my opinion.

What I do recommend is that you read some of the articles on my blog. If you think I know what Im talking about then I would strongly recommend that you check out some of my links.
If you can find a good local Christian Church then that might be a possiblity, but Im afraid that may be as hard as finding a good AA meeting.


If you don’t like what Im saying and think Im crazy then by all means go to AA. Id rather see you there than out driving on the roads drunk.