Without a doubt, the general consensus in this country is that Alcoholics Anonymous is an effective remedy for alcoholism and is the treatment of choice. Virtually all treatment centers in the United States funnel their clientele into Alcoholics Anonymous or sister groups such as Cocaine Anonymous.

Rarely, if ever, does the mass media carry anything except the highest praise for AA and the treatment facilities. In newspaper articles, television news features and radio interviews, politicians, movie stars, famous athletes and even an ex-first lady carry the message that they had faced alcoholic ruin but “being in recovery”* saved their lives.

The multi-billion dollar treatment industry advertises the need for “treatment,” costs of which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars for a standard 28-day stay.

Each business sells its own treatment as the best for those suffering from what they claim is an incurable, progressive disease. Success rates of as high as 90 percent are reported.

While not all advertisements explicity state “medical treatment,” it is usually implied. While often set in hospitals, rarely is much about the treatment “medical.” A small number of alcoholics, perhaps ten or fifteen