Oh my God, I super agree, probably in a way not a lot of readers here will expect.
Joining narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous comes with an immediate expectation that you will “accept a higher power”. It is step one of “the program”. I find that profane as an atheist. And it was a huge problem when I tried to join the program.
I won’t get into it further, because it would be long enough for its own post, but the religious dogma in the 12 step programs, including alcoholics anonymous, is an incredible and introductory load of the bullshit that only expands further into more egregious loads of bullshit as you progress through the 12 steps. Some of it helps. Some of it makes everything much worse.
The 12 step recovery programs were invented by amateurs in 1936. If you’re looking to recover from addiction, there have been invented far more effective programs for recovery in the last 100 years by professionals who actually know what they’re doing.
If you want to treat your addiction to alcohol or other addictive substances, do your research. 12 step programs have, at best, a 6% success rate. They are your worst option. You can do better. You deserve better.
12 step programs are only there to shame you and guarantee failure. You will get nothing else there other than a community of shame and failure. And garbage religious dogma shoved down your throat.
Edit: I will say, however, that the vast majority of the people in those programs are looking not only to help themselves, but honestly caring enough to try to help others. So I am not judging them, just judging the program itself and how it has aged out of its own usefulness.
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