Alcoholics Anonymous is a gift to humankind. Anyone who calls AA a cult is either in denial or has not explored it fully enough to know what they're talking about. AA saves lives -- pure and simple. Alcoholics Anonymous is a solution to the disease of alcoholism. Those who wonder if they might have a problem can only benefit from trying rather than listening to those who judge. It asks nothing of people -- no money, no commitment, no nothing. There is no rule book in AA -- only suggestions. That is one of the foundations of the AA program. No one forces you to do anything. You can show up once and never go again. You decide when and if you'd like to continue. You will always be welcomed back in L.A., no matter how far down the scale you've gone. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. That's it. It's the ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR AA MEMBERSHIP. Anyone who suggests otherwise, again...hasn't looked closely enough or perhaps wishes to rationalize their own staying away. AA helps individuals address their drinking problems, improves quality of lives, and saves individuals and families from the depths of alcoholic hell. I've seen people...many of them...come into AA as the result of a DUI and being mandated to attend meetings. Many never leave. It's difficult to admit you have a drinking problem. Who wants to admit that? But if your life is stagnant, if your relationships are a mess, if you suffer hangovers rather than success on a regular basis, and if you can't seem to figure out "what is wrong with you" and why your life gets no traction, please consider giving AA a try. I had a preconceived idea of what AA was, and it turned out to be completely different from what I imagined. Many in AA are successful, well-educated, kind, smart people from all walks of life who grew tired of wondering why their lives never seemed to go anywhere. I am a working professional with an MBA, a master's in teaching, three kids, a spouse, and a loving home. Of course, not everyone in AA is like me, though many are. I've met countless people of all kinds there, and it has saved my life. AA includes people from all walks of life, all races, socio-economic brackets, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, etc. It is a cross-section of the entire U.S. population and the world. And for many, it works when other solutions have failed. You have absolutely nothing to lose except your misery. Reach out. Wayne Gretzky wisely said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." I love this quote. You will never know if you never try. Rather than stay in unhappiness, even misery, or denial, why not try something that has helped millions of people in hundreds of countries? If it's not for you, you need never go back. I wish you the best. read more