Alcoholics Anonymous
Hacker ApprovedSupport group in Health & fitness
Recommended for getting sober through free meetings, sponsors and a shared program. Main caveat: critics object to its religious elements.
Recommended for getting sober through free meetings, sponsors and a shared program. Main caveat: critics object to its religious elements.
12 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 11
- criticize it
- 1
- approval share
- 92%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 11 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 11 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Helps people get sober
“with AA it’s helpful to get people sober and there’s value and comfort in that”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “I changed my personality in six weeks” “has helped millions of people get sober”
Comment from 23 Apr 2026 in “Trump administration reclassifies cannabis as less dangerous” “It worked for me when nothing else did.”
Comment from 14 Oct 2026 in “Suicide rates highest ever among middle-aged men” Meetings and sponsor support
“Then you’ll see what’s possible with a program, help, and work.”
Comment from 29 Sep 2026 in “13 Months Sober (2025)” “find a meeting you like and get a sponsor you also like”
Comment from 28 Sep 2026 in “13 Months Sober (2025)” Accessible and worth trying
“I do honestly and fervently believe it's worth trying”
Comment from 4 Nov 2025 on Hacker News “AA programs are accessible and can be helpful.”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “I changed my personality in six weeks” Valuable, comforting experience
“I still rely on the wisdom I gained in AA/MA.”
Comment from 15 Jan 2026 in “Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?” “It's such a wonderful experience.”
Comment from 23 Apr 2026 in “Trump administration reclassifies cannabis as less dangerous”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Religious elements and compelled participation
“AA is religious, and so is not an appropriate activity for the state to compel participation in.”
Comment from 4 Nov 2025 on Hacker News
What people said
12 of the 13 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“It worked for me when nothing else did.”
“Then you’ll see what’s possible with a program, help, and work.”
“find a meeting you like and get a sponsor you also like”
“It's such a wonderful experience.”
“has helped millions of people get sober”
“in-person groups like AA (replacing the higher power stuff with an agnostic modification I found meaningful at the time)”
“I still rely on the wisdom I gained in AA/MA.”
“with AA it’s helpful to get people sober and there’s value and comfort in that”
“AA programs are accessible and can be helpful.”
“it does more harm than good by having meetings constantly remind people that they can easily relapse”
“AA is religious, and so is not an appropriate activity for the state to compel participation in.”
“I do honestly and fervently believe it's worth trying”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.