Statistically, AA works for only a small fragment who show up. I became very ill with severe facial pain. The suicide rate is greater than 95%. My doctor suggested that I go and be around other suffering people. The meetings were upbeat. It is the opposite of the Witnesses in many respect. The leaders must be servants. AA goes to great lengths to not have a cult like organization telling people what to do. In fact, there is a cross talk rule. No advice or comments on another's person's shares is allowed. It enabled me to develop my own voice.
I was exposed to severe abuse with my Witness father. Despite therapy, I found I was repeating certain patterns that were not functional. They helped me live as a child but were maladaptive for an adult. There is something very glorious in the sharing of grief and hopes for a better future. There is focus on actually changing behavior. All this is free.
I used to think AA was a bunch of bar drunks. People who still wanted some high even if they were sober. Reality knocked down that image. I see many similarities between the nascent Christian community in the gospel, Pauline letters and Acts.
Side note: We discussed the authentic Gospel record at Stations of the Cross last week, not the Cecil B. DeMille mash in our heads. Jesus went out of his ways to make things simplistic without much organization or dogma. He taught in parables. The Twelve Apostles were not theologians and far from the best and brightest. If Jesus wanted dogmatic statements, all Jesus had to do was to start dictating. He is almost coy during his trial. Food for thought.