Alcoholics Anonymous is a large worldwide network of individuals dedicated to helping their peers recover from alcohol addiction through an established 12-step program. Many alcoholics credit the program for their recovery. But AA may not be for everyone. The heavy focus on a "higher power," prayer and mention of God may be an obstacle for those who are not religious. There are alternatives to AA that are structured differently.
LifeRing
LifeRing is a peer support group for those addicted to alcohol or drugs. Its role and purpose in members' lives is similar to AA, but less structured. Unlike AA, addicts of any substance may attend LifeRing meetings, while AA is designed solely for alcoholics, though other fellowships, such as Narcotics Anonymous and Marijuana Anonymous, also exist. LifeRing differs from AA in that there is no focus on a higher power. Rather than initiate healing through an understanding of this concept, the LifeRing philosophy is that each person has his own power to recover from alcohol. Additionally, there is no prayer in a LifeRing meeting, and members are not required to refer to themselves as "alcoholics," as in AA. There is no formal 12-step process in LifeRing, and each member is considered a "sponsor," or friend that others may call in need. This contrasts with the specific assigned sponsor role that is followed in AA.
LifeRing is available throughout North America and in Ireland and Sweden. In the United States, meetings are near most cities in California, but are more spread out elsewhere.
Rational Recovery
The Rational Recovery program is aimed at self-recovery without the use of meetings. The philosophy of RR is based on the idea that each person has an "addictive voice" that must be ignored to successfully conquer addiction. This is called Addictive Voice Recognition Technique. In particular contrast to AA, RR intends to end members' dependence on not just alcohol, but also on going to meetings. AA encourages lifelong meeting attendance. But the RR philosophy instead focuses on independent methods that an addict or alcoholic uses to identify her inner weakness that leads to her vice. The RR program starts with a quick online "crash course" in self-recovery. The RR organization says this is effective on its own for many individuals. For those seeking particular guidance, a one-time two-day RR class is available in Sacramento, California, for a fee.
Secular Organizations for Sobriety
Secular Organizations for Sobriety was designed as a deliberate alternative for those who are uncomfortable with the religious implications of the AA format. The program's founder says that SOS is about "self-empowerment, self-responsibility and human support." The SOS meeting format is fairly unstructured and easily customized based on the needs of specific attendees. The goal of SOS is to continually keep religion and spirituality separate from the process of alcohol recovery.
SOS meetings are available around the world. They are most widespread in California, but are also available in many other areas.
