Donna- The dependence on AA bothers me too. I left AA the first time because my sponsor wanted me to go to more meetings per week and because people at meetings kept saying AA was the only way to recover (and I don't think any way is the only way).
Now I stay away from meetings where that kind of dependence or rigidity is prominent. It does not help my recovery to listen to it. I'm lucky to have very alternative AA meetings nearby and lots of other recovery programs too. I swear I live in the mecca of recovery programs. (Although I don't agree with much of the 12 steps) To each her/his own!!!