MMBob,
Some of us ARE forced to go to AA! Few are willing to risk the "or else..."
I did not "need" AA, although by being forced to be there, I simply found a "room" full of the wildest and craziest street people I could find.
While I did that for my "entertainment" (some of the other rooms bored me to near insanity), some of the sagest words of wisdom came from the most unlikely people, most of whom I would be scared to share a bus ride with.
I still often quote some of the things I heard there, things I think might help others here on SR.