Why does AA promote weakness to its followers?

The famous AA saying is "It works if you work it." How can you really believe bad things about AA if you didn't even put effort into it? I'm interning in an inpatient rehab program now and I see how the steps have really helped people. AA is not just for beginners, it is a lifelong commitment to maintaining sobriety. I've been to meetings and only seen people talk about hope and how much better their lives are now. Obviously, if you weren't powerless to change then you would have changed by now. If addicts weren't weak then it wouldn't be called addiction. How did it change your friend for the worse? May be you are jealous?