Spirituality, religion, and recovery: what about the nonreligious?

This review examines the body of literature on the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the relationship between spirituality and recovery, and the implications for nonreligious individuals in such settings. It spotlights research that documents the positive effects of spiritual transformations on recovery outcomes. Concurrently, it highlights the obstacles encountered by nonreligious participants in AA, including feelings of alienation due to the program's emphasis on spirituality. The review concludes by stressing the necessity for additional studies into the experiences of nonreligious individuals within 12-step frameworks like AA, aiming to improve recovery practices for a growing nonreligious population.