So I am the only one around here who has had a positive experience with AA. I know the addiction section of this forum is not very active at all and this is primarily a mental health forum but I can't believe I am the only one.

And I don't think it is fair or accurate to call it "group think"

Thinking individuals voluntarily choose to go to AA. They can choose to adopt the philosophy or not. Take what they like and leave the rest. Most who choose to stay decide that the steps and traditions make sense to them.

You could say that "group think" is true for a lot of cultures or segments of society. Golf, curling, psychology, bio chemistry, physics. There are agreed upon methods and principles. Any organization with a mission statement and by laws could be said to have "group think". Not everyone agrees on everything and there is debate but that is true for AA as well. There is debate about mental illness and whether it should be talked about in meetings or is it an outside issue. Many many in AA have dual diagnosis. I think it should be openly talked about in meetings. Some disagree. It is a healthy debate and things evolve. I would argue that alcoholism/addiction is itself a mental illness. Drugs, dysfunctional families, and codependency was new and tabboo at one time. Now it is openly talked about. AA is based on the steps and traditions and a certain philosophy in the book. They are very sound and have much in common with many other philosophies and principles including psychology. Then you have a bunch of sick people trying to apply them.