i think we have to remember that just walking thru the doors of AA or Alanon or the like, does not CHANGE people for the better. sharks can just as easily be found in church groups, pta meetings, book clubs and bars........
i do like that while you are analyzing and categorizing, you chose to put your focus on your friend Beth....that YOU want what SHE has. cuz that is what matters.
altho we never attended at the same time, it turns out that hank and i went to meetings at the same AA hall (he many years after me) and many of the same characters were still there. and when a wide eyed scared to death HOT looking 38-going-on 28 year old walked in, the women were on him like white on rice, WELCOMING the newcomer. eve had his very own stalker for a bit.....
is that the fault of AA? or recovery? nope, just good ole human nature......