This is a great thread. The people that I've seen in AA who are successful (success defined as maintaining sobriety over a long-term period) all said that they had made up their minds to never drink again. So it seems to me that the successful folks in AA had made a Big Plan and on some level, do use AVRT whether they realize it or not. It also seems that having any sort of spiritual awakening is impossible while one is pouring booze down their gullet.
Makes me think that AVRT is what to use to stop and stay stopped. You can use AA and the 12 steps for group support/friendships and to change your way of living so that the things that once were impossible to deal with become possible.