For me I had reached the point where I could not stop, I had to drink, but I also had to stop or die. I went and saw a specialist in alcoholism and drug addicrion, laid it all out on the line thinking that all he had to do was prescribe me one of the anti-craving drugs or antabuse and I would be good to go!
Well he told me flat out that he would do as I asked but it would be a waste of his time and mine, he told me that the only way I was going to begin to stop was to go into detox, so he set me up and I drank right up until the day I went into detox. In detox they told me that if I wanted a chance at long term sobriety I needed to go to at least 90 AA meetings in 90 days and get a sponsor.
Well here it is over 10 months later, I am happier then I have been in over 30 years and the need/urge to drink is gone!!!! I owe it all to the program of AA.