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People who get clean and sober and stay that way usually do it within the framework of NA or AA.

It's a proven way. Not the only way, but the most reliable. G-d bless Bill W. !!!!

The threat of certain consequences is what forces them to get with the program.

I'm tellin' ya, this is not necessarily true. In fact, addicts are stubborn and self-centered people, so I'd say this is true < 50% of the time. Probably much less than 50%, actually.

What forces most people to get with the program is not THREATS, but a geniune desire to leave the lifestyle.

In fact, if a person comes to the rooms of NA because a judge ordered it or because they are under threats of some nature, I can usually and accurately predict they won't make it.

I have a brother-in-law who has been in jail repeatedly and over the holidays while on probation, was arrested again after his court mandated AA meeting. He will stop using when he decide to and no sooner.

"What forces most people to get with the program is not THREATS, but a geniune desire to leave the lifestyle."

Thank God I've never had an addiction to anything stronger than coffee, but I've had some friends struggle with it.

Your statement is so true. You can't force someone to want to change. And wanting to change is the only thing that works, not promising that bad stuff will happen.