How effective alcoholics anonymous?

Not very many: By straight statistics less than 10% of all attendees really get long term benefit. However, as an adjunct to either medication assisted abstinence or structured counseling, it offers a lot of benefit. In terms of long term support of abstinence, it is the only game in town and many persons have benefited from the program.

Ask the people: Who are still alive and sober today because of this 12 step program.

Wrong question: People often ask about the effectiveness of a particular treatment for alcoholism or other addictions. It is not the treatment but the person committing an a daily basis to following what they have learned. As aa itself says in its book, "we are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." (p 85, alcoholics anonymous).