From another of my recent Disqus postings:
The existence of God is a theological question, not a question that can be answered by science. However, we can measure how much AA helps alcoholics stay sober.
We know that the more often people go to meetings (especially in the first year), the more likely they are to stay sober. Moos and Moos 2006 shows an undeniable correlation. Humpreys 2014 makes a strong case that the AA program is the cause for meeting makers making it. Galanter 2016 goes even further: It shows objective scientific evidence that praying helps successful AA members stay sober.
Now, we don't have peer reviewed science asking people “did you work the steps as written in the first 164 pages to the best of your ability?”, but we do have Gabriel Segal's essay "How an addict's power of choice is lost and can be regained" which makes a very strong case that 99% of alcoholics who get serious about the program stay sober.
