I got sober without AA. I've been to enough meetings to know that it's not for me. I went to a non 12-step rehab and we have a weekly meeting online for a year after we leave. Many times we don't even talk about drinking/using. It's more about being able to deal with all of life's issues and curveballs in a healthy manner -- without using our crutch of choice. After all, that's why many people drink....to numb out or cope with problems. This approach works well for me. I'm only 8 months sober so I can't speak for those with long term sobriety. And, as freshstart mentioned, most people who quit do so on their own.