I am still suspicious of the "substitute God for group of drunks, higher self, a chair, or doorknob " since I recovered without the higher power/prayer element. The millions of people that AA has helped is mathematically dwarfed by the numbers of people it hasn't. It's awesome that it works for some people, but suggesting that struggling addicts who don't break free, are somehow to blame because they didn't work the program properly, is just a convenient way to shift the blame. I would advise struggling people to try a 12-step program, but with a stern warning to seek alternatives if it doesn't work!