Personally, I don't think tax money should be poured into studies like these at all. (I don't know if tax payer money was used in this study, but it is in others). You might as well spend millions to see if Christianity works as a recovery method. As helpful as it might be to some or ingrained into our society, 12-step therapy has absolutely no standing in science or medicine. No scientist as a result of experimentation discovered the 12 steps. Its empirically indefensible. Unfortunately, its still marketed because its SO profitable...a lot of people try it out.
Thats why I say its up to AA and 12 step groups to gather the funds to conduct a study that can satisfy neautral parties interested in seeing who it works for. The 12-step industry has a LOT of money, friends in high places, the whole deal. It should be easy, right?