Alcoholics Anonymous and Powerlessness

I am not the biggest fan of Alcoholics Anonymous and their 12 Steps program. I am not saying that AA doesn't have good people who TRY to help alcoholics, I am simply of the opinion that teaching an alcoholic that he or she is "powerless before alcohol" is learned helplessness, and does WAY more harm than good in most people. Here are a few articles on the subject:

Avoid AA's 12 Steps Program Avoid 12 step programs that empower the addiction, and weaken you. Instead, choose to Empower Yourself, and the addiction will soon be a part of your past, and you can start living life to its fullest today.

12 Step Addiction 12 steps programs do more harm than good, and actually lead the alcoholic into a lifetime struggle against his addiction.

Focus on Today The question often comes up as to whether someone who is trying to quit drinking alcohol outside of a 12-Step program should attend Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings.

God and Alcoholism Is it best to completely rely on a Supreme Being to give you the strength to overcome your addiction? Or, is this mindset somehow enabling you to continue in your addiction, as you pawn off the responsibility to control yourself to Someone else?

Hate Mail Evidently some people get mighty upset that I dare to suggest that AA and it's "learned helplessness" approach causes more harm than good. Or they feel that my articles don't meet their expectations of what "alcoholism articles" should be.

Is Alcoholism a Disease? Is alcoholism a disease that you have no control over? Many alcoholics who think so are in reality simply tired of giving an excuse for their drinking problem so they want to make it sound like a confusing, medical issue that the common person will not be able to understand.

Overcoming Alcoholism Before anyone can even begin to consider a life of abstinence there are some concepts to consider, and unless taken into account can either make or break any plan of overcoming alcoholism.