Addiction recovery groups

Addiction recovery groups are voluntary associations of people who share a common desire to overcome drug addiction. Different groups use different methods, ranging from completely secular to explicitly spiritual. Some programs may advocate a reduction in the use of illegal drugs rather than outright abstention, although this is typically not a sustainable treatment plan in the long term. One survey of members found active involvement in any addiction recovery group correlates with higher chances of maintaining sobriety. The survey found group participation increased when the individual members' beliefs matched those of their primary support group (often people will be members of multiple addiction recovery groups).^[1] Analysis of the survey results found a significant positive correlation between the religiosity of members and their participation in twelve-step addiction recovery groups and SMART Recovery, although the correlation factor was three times smaller for SMART Recovery than for the twelve-step addiction recovery groups. Religiosity was inversely related to participation in Secular Organizations for Sobriety.^[1]

A survey of a cross-sectional sample of clinicians working in outpatient facilities (selected from the SAMHSA On-line Treatment Facility Locator) found that clinicians only referring clients to twelve-step groups for treatment were more likely than those referring their clients to twelve-step groups and "twelve-step alternatives" to believe less strongly in the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral and psychodynamic-oriented therapy, and were likely to be unfamiliar with twelve-step alternatives. A logistic regression of clinician's knowledge and awareness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy effectiveness and preference for the twelve-step model was correlated with referring exclusively to twelve-step groups.^[2]

The following is a list of addiction recovery groups dealing with substances other than food.

Twelve-step addiction recovery groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Cocaine Anonymous (CA) Heroin Anonymous (HA) Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) Marijuana Anonymous (MA) Nicotine Anonymous (NicA) Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Pills Anonymous (PA)

Non-twelve-step addiction recovery group options Association of Recovering Motorcyclists (ARM) LifeRing Secular Recovery (LSR) Moderation Management (MM) Narconon (Church of Scientology) Pagans in Recovery (PIR) Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) SMART Recovery Women For Sobriety (WFS)

See also

• List of twelve-step groups
• Self-help groups for mental health
• Temperance movement
• Twelve-step program
• Rational Recovery

References

1. Atkins, R.; Hawdon, JE (2007). "Religiosity and participation in mutual-aid support groups for addictions". Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 33 (3): 321–331. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2007.07.001. PMC 2095128. PMID 17889302.
2. Fenster, Judy (July 2006). "Characteristics of clinicians likely to refer clients to 12-Step programs versus a diversity of post-treatment options". Drug and Alcohol Dependence 83 (3): 238–246. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.11.017. PMID 16376025.

Further reading

• Buddie, A. M. (2004). "Alternatives to Twelve-Step Programs". Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice 4 (3): 61–70. doi:10.1300/J158v04n03_04.
• Chappel, J. N., & DuPont, R. L. (June 1999). "Twelve-step and mutual-help programs for addictive disorders". Sychiatric Clinics of North America 22 (2): 425–446. doi:10.1016/S0193-953X(05)70085-X. PMID 10385942.
• Dermatis, H., Guschwan, M. T., Galanter, M., & Bunt, G. (2004). "Orientation Toward Spirituality and Self-Help Approaches in the Therapeutic Community". Journal of Addictive Diseases 23 (1): 39–54. doi:10.1300/J069v23n01_04. PMID 15077839.
• Galanter, M. (Jul–Aug 2006). "Spirituality and Addiction: A Research and Clinical Perspective". The American Journal on Addictions 15 (4): 286–292. doi:10.1080/10550490600754325. PMID 16867923.
• Hart, K. E. (1999). "A spiritual interpretation of the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: From resentment to forgiveness to love". Journal of Ministry in Addiction & Recovery 6 (2): 25–39. doi:10.1300/J048v06n02_03.
• Humphreys, K.; Koman, Jeremy; Sow, Mamadou Bhoye (December 1997). "Self-help/mutual aid organizations: The view from Mars". Substance Use & Misuse 32 (14): 2105–2109. doi:10.1159/000156357.
• Laudet, A. B. (December 2003). "Attitudes and beliefs about 12-step groups among addiction treatment clients and clinicians: Toward identifying obstacles to participation". Substance Use & Misuse 38 (14): 2017–2047. doi:10.1081/JA-120025124.
• Laudet, A. B., & White, W. L. (2005). "An Exploratory Investigation of the Association Between Clinicians' Attitudes Toward Twelve-Step Groups and Referral Rates". Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 23 (1): 31–45. doi:10.1300/J020v23n01_04. PMC 1343517. PMID 16467900.
• Larkin, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (June 2002). "Experiences of addiction and recovery: The case for subjective accounts". Addiction Research & Theory 10 (3): 281–312. doi:10.1080/16066350211866.
• Melnick, G., Wexler, H. K., Chaple, M., & Banks, S. (October 2006). "The contribution of consensus within staff and client groups as well as concordance between staff and clients to treatment engagement". Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 31 (3): 277–285. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2006.05.002. PMID 16996390.
• Magura, S. (2007). "The relationship between substance user treatment and 12-step fellowships: Current knowledge and research questions". Substance Use & Misuse 42 (2–3): 343–360. doi:10.1080/10826080601142071. PMID 17558934.
• Mankowski, E. S., Humphreys, K., & Moos, R. H. (August 2001). "Individual and contextual predictors of involvement in twelve-step self-help groups after substance abuse treatment". American Journal of Community Psychology 29 (4): 537–563. doi:10.1023/A:1010469900892. PMID 11554152.
• Morgenstern, J., Kahler, C. W., Frey, R. M., & Labouvie, E. (1996). "Modeling therapeutic response to 12-step treatment: Optimal responders, nonresponders, and partial responders". Journal of Substance Abuse 8 (1): 45–59. doi:10.1016/S0899-3289(96)90079-6. PMID 8743768.
• Nosa Okundaye, J., Smith, P., & Lawrence-Webb, C. (2001). "Incorporating spirituality and the strengths perspective into social practice with addicted individuals". Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 1 (1): 65–82. doi:10.1300/J160v01n01_06.
• Straussner, S. L. A., & Spiegel, B. R. (September 1996). "An analysis of 12-step programs for substance abusers from a developmental perspective". Clinical Social Work Journal 24 (3): 299–309. doi:10.1007/BF02190557.
• Winzelberg, A., & Humphreys, K. (Oct 1999). "Should patients' religiosity influence clinicians' referral to 12-step self-help groups? Evidence from a study of 3,018 male substance abuse patients". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 67 (5): 790–794. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.67.5.790. PMID 10535246.