What happens in AA if you don't believe in God?

Yes, it really is odd that "medical" rehabs, paid for by one's medical insurance, continue to promote faith healing. I have been sober for over a decade, and have done my time in AA, and I am astonished that 12 step programs (which don't work any better than quitting on your own) form the basis of 90% of the treatment available in the US.

However, despite the near-monopoly held by AA, there are a number of other choices, yes. My own favorite is SMART Recovery, but there is also Rational Recovery, LifeRing, Women for Sobriety...others too are springing up and becoming ever more popular as people like you (and me) question 12 step "treatment".

A bit of pontificating: my belief is that alcoholism is not a disease, per se; although some people seem to be predisposed to it, the behavior is voluntary, and the thing that needs to happen for a person to quit is that the person has to understand that there is no other option, and become committed to abstinence. God doesn't do it. You do.

At that point, group support (not necessarily AA--group support of whatever type suits you) can be helpful. It doesn't do the work. It isn't magic, and it doesn't make you quit. It just helps to be able to talk to others who "get it".

Ultimately though, I think, and certainly this was the case for me, the real work comes after you're sober a while and have to build or rebuild your life. For this, it can be helpful to seek the help of a therapist. That is what I did, and I credit the work I did in therapy far more than anything else I did. It took five years, but it was worth it.

Here are some links, by the way, that you might find helpful:

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.as...

http://www.peele.net/

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=we...

http://www.orange-papers.org/

Yeah the whole 12 step program isn't my favourite, but the idea of a higher power is kind of misunderstood. A higher power for most people is a monotheistic being. This is just one view though. The best higher power I heard of in AA was a member saying that his higher power was the doorknob on the front door of his AA meeting place. It was the first thing he felt was safe when he entered, and the last reminder to apply what he learned on the way out.

I work at a rehab that is based on the 12 step program. Taking the clients to the meetings really sucks for me, but without AA, I wouldn't have the father I know and love today.

There are other choices for sobering up. The courts actually can't force people into twelve step programs anymore because of that reason.