What evidence exists?
Although hardly any research study has actually been carried out on non 12-step shared help groups, psychologists and AA scientists Keith Humphreys and Lee Ann Kaskutas stated at a 2007 conference at the Betty Ford Institute, “By example, one can fairly argue that these companies most likely benefit individuals since they share alleviative functions (e.g., abstinent good example, social assistance) with organizations that have been revealed effective in longitudinal research study. For some organizations, like SMART Recovery, an even more powerful argument through example can be made more effective due to the fact that the organization’s change in innovation is embraced from reputable treatment methods.”
If absolutely nothing else, we understand that individuals have much better treatment results when they’re provided with options and not persuaded to accept one thing or another. In 2012, a report on addiction treatment in the United States by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia specified, “The research study proof plainly shows that a one-size-fits-all method to addiction treatment usually is a dish for failure.”
As a case in point, for Inside Rehab, Rose T. stated that she felt that her relapse was following her very first treatment experience and may have been avoided if she had been told about Women for Sobriety at that time. Ultimately, on her own, she checked out alternatives to AA and discovered Women for Sobriety to be the very best fit. She shared, “To being in a space with others like me, makes me feel less alone. I’ve discovered such a stunning neighborhood of sober siblings, and I’ve got such a strong support system supporting me.”
Although Alcoholics Anonymous and the other 12 Step groups like Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and so on are well-known recovery organizations, there are alternatives to the 12 Step Movement. The majority of these were developed from the acknowledgment that one size does not fit all. Some are actively opposed to the spiritual tone discovered in 12 Step groups, while some welcome a particular type of spirituality.