In my opinion: 'The total-abstinence-requirement, as Step 1, is a deep flaw.

The slogan “It works if you work it [so work it you're worth it]” can be demoralizing due to the implication that those who are unable to maintain abstinence simply are not trying hard enough, when the reality is that “success rates are not high with any approach to addiction treatment, even residential or partial hospitalization with medication management, and they are even lower with 12-step alone.” — (Psychiatryadvisor.com)

It’s too scary and/or painful for many, hence the tremendous relapse/failure rate, and then when the relapse happens, the 12-step groups make one go all the way back to step 1. It’s so hard to keep the faith even when one truly believes in a higher power, how do they expect someone to keep enough faith not to fall back on the one thing they are sure about? Let them continue to partake if they want. Even while actively “doing” a step. That alone should increase success rates." https://medium.com/illumination/drilling-further-down-into-the-root-cause-of-addiction-d8fe84143905