Actually, though I voted, there isn't a true answer to the poll for me.

I know of people whose lives were "rescued" because of a 12 step support group...however to me, their lives still need rescuing.

The average 12 step program doesn't finish the healing...it perpetuates it. I disagree that someone who used to abuse narcotics or whatever is still a druggie or alcohol an alcoholic.

We all have bad habits and issues from our past in one form or another. Why are those whose bodies craved their bad habit never allowed to be free from it? Mindset.

Each 12 step I find has a higher power, God if you will, involved. Yet they leave out a viable 13th step (maybe because of the number reference???) GOD can change you, truly, if you trust Him to do so and you can leave the old bad habit totally behind. You are no longer a drug addict or an alcoholic.

None of go around saying, "Hi, I'm xx and I'm a liar" if we were big liars in the past, for example. Neither should a healing program force that upon the addicted.

And there are those whose bodies were physically off to begin with, allowing an addiction and perhaps even an allergy (you crave or abhor what you are allergic to). But you won't find someone who had a bad allergy in the past, who might crave that item or food or drink still but disciplines herself not to give in, saying, "Hi I'm xx and I'm addicted to ice cream."

Yes, the support groups do rescue people from the miry clay they find themselves in, but it's so close to being really successful overall I wish they would show people how to fully rely upon their God.

It isn't much different from people's attitudes in general though, for those with mental issues especially I think. We still want to be able to do something ourselves, fix ourselves without another's help OR we go the opposite route in defeat and, as NA AA etc promote, you're always going to be there in the mud in your thinking because you were a very bad person and can never truly get away from it.

I believe everyone gets a second chance while still alive, no one is perfect, and we all need to set aside the past to truly live in the present.

Be well.