"T. Sean Weintz" <sean@snerts-r-us.org> wrote in message
news:10djrc7p5v39d33@corp.supernews.com...

> I have to disagree with folks that think the attrition rate of AA is in
> any way "proof" that AA does not work.

In my experience I've rarely seen it presented that way, at least among the
non-step folks. That AA triennial study which claims 95% who come to AA are
gone by years end (circa 1989 or something?) is the one most quoted it
appears. When presented I've interpreted such as just an example that most
folks find AA isn't what they were looking for and left for either other
methods, or to continue doing as they were. What I have found over the
years as most interesting however, is the rationalizations steppers will
give for that 95% attrition figure, but yet not one has ever once said
something along the lines of: "But of course 95% leave after the first year,
that is how good a recovery program AA is."

-Markus
--
"Magic, it must be remembered, is an art which demands collaboration between
the artist and his public." -E.M. Butler

Markus wrote:

> "T. Sean Weintz" <sean@snerts-r-us.org> wrote in message
> news:10djrc7p5v39d33@corp.supernews.com...
>
> > I have to disagree with folks that think the attrition rate of AA
> > is in any way "proof" that AA does not work.
>
> In my experience I've rarely seen it presented that way, at least
> among the non-step folks. That AA triennial study which claims 95%
> who come to AA are gone by years end (circa 1989 or something?) is
> the one most quoted it appears. When presented I've interpreted
> such as just an example that most folks find AA isn't what they were
> looking for and left for either other methods, or to continue doing
> as they were. What I have found over the years as most interesting
> however, is the rationalizations steppers will give for that 95%
> attrition figure, but yet not one has ever once said something along
> the lines of: "But of course 95% leave after the first year, that is
> how good a recovery program AA is."
>
> -Markus
> --
> "Magic, it must be remembered, is an art which demands collaboration
> between the artist and his public." -E.M. Butler

Agreed. I have seen conclusions drawn from the AA triennial study about
failure rates that you really cannot draw. All you can really say from
it is that AA's membership is very transient but in the light of most
steppers belief that you have to carry on going to meetings for the
rest of your life to get a daily reprieve from the "disease" of
alcoholism I think its reasonable to say that all is not well in 12
Step world

--
Kev
Brighton UK