Can atheist or an agnostic participate effectively in 12-step programs?

Answer 1

Yes. Anyone can, with hard work and determination. Difference of faith does not interfere with the efficiency of any 12-step programs.

However, note that you cannot work the program as described in the AA Big Book, which consistantly and repeatedly describes God as the creator of the Universe.

If you have faith but not faith in a supernatural, divine creator, you will need to find another fellowship, with a less religious tone or ignore their basic text and stay and find a sponsor who works a less supernatural program.

Answer:

The success rate in AA is about 5%. A lot of clients turn to cigarettes and coffee as replacement drugs, some turn to binge drinking as an alternative to continuous alcohol use. Even he religion pushed by AA is seen as a crutch for facing the real world in the same way as the drugs or alcohol which it replaces. So an atheist or agnostic could get as much or as little use out of the program as anyone. Most alcohols or drug abusers that kick their addiiction do it by deciding internally that they've had enough and want to be clean without recourse to any program at all.