A.A. In the 21st Century

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) started in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob was the second instance in American history where the seeds of a program were developed to help other alcoholics stop their addictive drinking. In view of the fact that this program continues to be the most widely utilized inpatient and outpatient alcohol addiction treatment program in the United States virtually without question and examination of just how effective it is should be of major concern due to the fact that problems and concerns with the rudimentary cornerstones of A.A. prevent some individuals from having other choices to seek treatment from. Religion, spirituality and lifetime commitment to one program may not apply to every individual with an alcohol addiction.  These elements must be considered if A.A. is truly worthy of being the Gold Standard for alcohol addiction treatment in the U.S.  This study examined the effectiveness of A.A. measured against the other protocols available to patients in the 21st century.  When compared to Alcoholics Anonymous, it was found that there is no significant statistical difference in the effectiveness of A.A. and three nationally recognized alternative treatment programs. Further, the study found that the environs and personal associations that alcoholics maintain during and after active treatment carry a major significance equal to or greater than the treatment itself.