Deborah Becker

There isn't really a standardized way to measure.

And because, of course, AA is, as the name suggests, anonymous, it's not clear whether those who participate in surveys are truly representative of the entire group, right?

So there are no hard numbers, but several studies on the effectiveness of AA for all those who try it show success rates averaging about 30% after three years.

Right.

It's not.

But it is free, and it is the most widely used form of talk therapy, if you will, for addiction.

And it's worth noting that most of the rehab in America is based on the 12 steps.

Right, right.

And we keep spending more and more.

In drug addiction circles right now, rehab is sometimes called big rehab, the same as big pharma.

Most estimates suggest that annual treatment costs in the U.S.

are in the tens of billions of dollars, depending on how you calculate rehab money.

And addiction treatment operates in this quasi-medical realm.

there hasn't really been a lot of strict oversight.

There have been a lot of stories about corruption in the rehab industry, even criminal negligence.

I spoke with Casey O'Brien.

She experienced the so-called Florida shuffle.

Now, Florida has seen a proliferation of treatment programs over the years.

And O'Brien told me she went from one program to another before she stabilized when she returned home to New England.

And RFK Jr.