It's so important I'll repeat. The real deal alkies and addicts don't recover by going to meetings. They recover by some kind of spiritual experience.
I find what KeithJ says very interesting. I don't go to AA/NA but I did seek a personal/spiritual renewal in my recovery through my faith. Sometimes that what it takes to break the hold. I can see the 12 steps being patterned on that as a means of growth. I relinquished my own will and way of doing things - which was messed up and getting me nowhere - and sought the will/guidance of my HP instead. For me it wasn't so much a flash bang moment as some people seem to look for or expect, it was more about growth through using the tools.