Five years ago I sat on the beach with my sponsor. This guy was 290 lbs and claimed to be an ex-hitman. For whatever reason, we worked well together and having just gotten out of drug treatment I was not picky with who I worked with.

Although AA claims to be spiritually based, without affiliation to any particular religion, there is a requirement for a belief in a higher power of some sort, and to use the strength and guidance of this higher power in recovery. Although this higher power need not be god in the traditional sense, many people without a belief in a religious god struggle with this aspect of the program. Although this can prove problematic, many agnostics and even atheists find a power outside of themselves that meets the requirements of the program, and as a result benefit greatly from AA; while many other cannot.

Low cost or free, long term and Faith based, a lot of people in need and without insurance, overlook the Salvation Army's drug and alcohol rehabs.