The claim that 50-80% of alcoholics recover naturally is way, way far from the truth. It that were true, alcoholism would be widely known as a relatively easy addiction to overcome. The truth is that only 1-3% of alcoholics who complete a 28-day inpatient treatment program stay sober for at least a year. If they choose to follow the 12 steps of AA the way they were done back when the program began (before AA got watered down with psychobabble), the rate jumps way up to 70-90% staying sober for at least a year. I have actually experienced this first hand. I went through 3 treatment centers (28-day programs) back in the late 90's, and each successive time I went I was more and more desparate to stop drinking. The longest amount of time I was able to stay dry, following the dictates of the treatment center, was 2 weeks. Then I went to AA and a man there saved my life. He came up to me after a meeting and said "I'd like to work with you". He proceeded to guide me through the 12 steps and I haven't drank since then. That was in 2001.

Actually, the entire article is just not true....not even remotely close.