In my ignorance I nearly die of alcoholism. A book was written and published by our early pioneers of AA and I chose to ignore the principles that were embodied in that book. Thank God for my sponsors in my early days of recovery, who through their example inculcated a culture of reading and applying AA principles. That definitely saved my life.
The AA steps of recovery is science at it's best. It took a badly mangled emotional wreck like me and transformed me into a sane emotionally stable human being. I have never desired a drink nor wish to. The promises of the AA program work if only I will work it with diligence. If I show a half baked passing interest in it, then I would have kept relapsing, and ultimately would have died from a treatable disease like alcoholism.
How do I know this? I have seen those around me who tried easier softer methods and did not believe that alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful.