Alcoholics anonymous and 12-step alcoholism treatment programs

For analyses, we followed Cochrane methodology calculating the standard mean difference SMD for continuous variables e. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses to pool effects wherever possible. The average age of participants within studies ranged from We rated selection bias as being at high risk in 11 of the 27 included studies, unclear in three, and as low risk in Risk of bias due to inadequate researcher blinding was high in one study, unclear in 22, and low in four.

Make a Call There are some who do not believe in the transformative knowledge of AA meetings. Because of the discomfort associated with attending an AA meeting, many people will come up with reasons not to attend. In other cases, self-doubt or a lack of belief in the recovery process can hinder someone from attending a meeting, and as a result, someone can create excuses or hold an oppositional reason to avoid attendance.

Some of the common oppositions people have are:. Although these excuses may seem huge to people who are already nervous about attending a meeting, the real object to focus on is why you were considering going in the first place. Allowing excuses to keep you from growing or improving your relationships can prove to be an obstacle to wellness. Seeing the bigger picture versus allowing excuses or an ego to stop you from getting treatment can be something to look at. Setting aside denial and succumbing to admittance is a powerful course of action.

Regardless of where you live, there is bound to be an AA group nearby. Most groups meet regularly, so you can go sooner rather than later. For more information on other treatment options, contact a treatment provider today. After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. David embarked on his journey into sobriety in June of , which led him to his current career path as a Certified Professional Addiction Recovery Coach in private practice in Greater Nashville.

David is also a public speaker and the author of two books. David is cohost of the weekly Positive Sobriety Podcast, as well as being a frequent contributor to various articles and recovery based materials. As a member of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors NAADAC , David works closely with Nashville area treatment centers, nonprofit recovery organizations, and consulting with faith-based groups trying to bridge the gap between the recovery communities and faith-based organizations who wish to understand addiction.

Tarzana, CA. View Center. Northridge, CA. Huntington Beach, CA. Fountain Valley, CA. Costa Mesa, CA. Irvine, CA. Newport Beach, CA. Laguna Hills, CA. Dana Point, CA. Lake Arrowhead, CA. San Diego, CA. Cathedral city, CA. Las Vegas, NV. Sacramento, CA. The studies included in this update examined a range of programs that differed in their approach and intensity, and these were compared against other programs and different treatments for alcohol use disorder.

The authors found high certainty evidence that clinically delivered and manualized TSF programs designed to increase AA participation can lead to higher rates of continuous abstinence over months and years, when compared to other active treatment approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy. This effect is achieved largely by fostering increased AA participation beyond the end of the TSF program. When compared to the other treatment approaches Alcoholics Anonymous AA -based programs may perform just as well at reducing drinking intensity, negative alcohol-related consequences and addiction severity.

John Kelly, Elizabeth R. Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known, free, mutual-help fellowship that helps people recover and improve their quality of life. One important finding from this review was that it does matter what type of TSF intervention people receive - better organized and well-articulated clinical treatments have the best result.