I’m new to the rooms but they’ve been helping me more than anything else I’ve ever tried. But I keep coming across these critiques of AA—that women get attacked there; that the science is all wrong; that the program only works for a tiny fraction of people who go to meetings. Two of the critics—Lance Dodes and Gabrielle Glaser—get a lot of attention in particular. I’m just wondering why the positive results I’ve been getting over the past three months have to be made so negative.

This is an excellent question and one you are likely to encounter more than a few times throughout the course of your recovery (continued at The Fix)*

*I am not an expert or a mental health or medical professional; I’m a sober person offering my experiences and advice about sobriety. Every other Tuesday I will one recovery-related question posed by Fix readers, based on my experience. Send your general advice questions to me at editor@thefix.com with the subject “Ask Katie.” 

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