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I think it's a mistake to equate atheism with addiction. The purpose of a "higher power" in 12 step programs is to highlight that one cannot accomplish everything by oneself. Indeed, relying only on yourself to try and kick an addiction is, generally, a very big mistake and a sure recipe for failure. Twelve step programs refer to a higher power to encourage addicts to admit that they are not all powerful and that they cannot control their addictions without outside help. There does not need to be a god for this to be true. Unless I'm mistaken, 12 step programs do not generally dictate what that higher power is, and as such I don't think atheism necessarily goes against what 12 step programs teach. The higher power, for example, may be the power of collective humanity. The power of love, generated by strong bonds between people. That's a higher power, and it certainly goes a long way toward breaking down an addict's barriers to outside help. It also doesn't require belief in any sort of god.
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Le temps détruit tout
"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling
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