Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous have adapted much of their practices from 19th century religious cults. In some ways this is probably intentional. It is very easy to indoctrinate someone into a cult if your leadership has no moral compass.
The big drawback is the inability for the organization to evolve. I think it’s time to admit that 12 step fellowships are cultish and manipulative, making them a poor choice for people seeking recovery.