Affiliation With Alcoholics Anonymous After Treatment: A study of Its
Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Action
Sarah Chavez/ PSY-411
Substance use disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders in the United States, affecting about 1 in 10 Americans each year (Kelser et al., 1994). There are a variety of options for sobriety assistance including treatment based programs, and self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA is a nonprofessional, self-supporting fellowship for men and women who have or have had a drinking problem. AA uses religion, and a belief in a higher power to spiritually assist each person with overcoming their alcohol addiction. There …show more content…
McCrady, Christopher W. Kahler and Ronni M. Frey, researches the Affiliation With Alcoholics Anonymous After Treatment, and its Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Action. The purpose of this study is to determine if increased affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous after formal treatment is associated with better proximal substance use outcomes. Prior to this study there had been few studies that adequately evaluated the efficacy of affiliating with AA after proper treatment of substance abuse. No study prior to this one, has examined its hypothesized methods of …show more content…
These participants were required to complete a baseline assessment, and an in-person one-month follow-up after discharge from treatment. Ninety-three of these individuals were also followed 6 months after the baseline assessment. Treatment that was delivered was based on a traditional “Minnesota Model” approach. The basic features of this program consisted of multiple therapies including; several hours daily of process-oriented group therapy, supervised milieu therapy, lectures and films on alcoholism and drug addiction, attendance at in-house and community self-help group meetings, individual therapy, and family therapy. These treatments focused on the education of substance abuse, overcoming denial, creating a sense of affiliation with self-help groups, and emphasizing the need for continuing treatment. The average duration of this intensive treatment lasted about 20.9 days. All participants were given a referral to an aftercare/ self-help group once they were discharged from