I got clean and sober through AA. I have been clean and sober 19 years. I chose to adopt its philosophy as it is written in simple terms because it made sense to me. I didn't agree with all of it and would argue and debate it all the time. "Take what you like and leave the rest." Some people say you have to adopt the whole "program" as it is written, but in reality that is not how it works for most. People adopt and integrate as part of their belief system what works for them. If they relapse they may want to think again. I can go one and on about AA philosophy and my experience.

I am more interested in what other methods and philosophies people have used and had success with. I have never been one who believes AA is the only way. One shoe does not fit all. I meet more and more people IRL and online who are turned off by AA and are looking for another method. I have a very close friend who is in that position. She isn't ready to give up drinking but knows she is a hard core alcoholic. Her current strategy is to try moderation and she is minimizing the consequences of her past drinking and rationalizing thing to make it ok to continue to drink in my view. I don't at all think moderation will work for her but she has to try as part of her process. She doesn't like AA because of the "religious" overtones. Really they are spiritual and everyone is free to adopt their own belief but it is a spiritual program, no doubt. People struggle with the concept of powerlessness. I think it is misconceived and I could go on and on. I am starting this thread because of her because I think she will want to commit to sobriety at one point but it may not be AA.

So what other methods have worked for people and can you share the philosophy and your experience? I don't mind debating the different philosophies and whether one approach is wise or not, but we should not disparage other peoples choices and what may or may not have worked for them.