What is A A.? Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global organization dedicated to helping people addicted to substances pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle via a 12-step program. The Oxford Group, an evangelical Christian fellowship that flourished in the United States and England in the early 1900s, had a strong influence on the origins of AA. The Oxford Group was non-denominational, and its members focused on erasing sin from daily life. The group did this by having members share their experiences with one another, make amends, examine themselves, make restitution for harm done, and engage in prayer. Inpatient alcohol rehabs, unlike outpatient programs, involve living at the treatment facility for the duration of the program. Common treatment lengths include 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days, although some programs may last longer if needed.
Like AA, NA also utilizes the support group model of therapy because it has shown to be very effective in treating addictions of all kinds. They make use of The Twelve Step Program, just as AA does. As you can see, there are many similarities between AA and NA, and it’s easy to get them confused. However, there are some differences between these two groups too, and they include more than just the addict’s chosen substance. While they may be subtle differences, they still exist. If you’re relatively new to the idea of getting treatment for your addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, you’ve probably wondered about whether you need AA vs NA.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global organization dedicated to helping people addicted to substances pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle via a 12-step program.
- It may also benefit those without a stable and sober support system that can provide encouragement and compassion outside of treatment hours.
- Patterson and Marlon agree that it’s more important to find something that works for the individual than it is to debate the effectiveness of a recovery tool.
- Patterson believes CBT can be a helpful tool when done in conjunction with a 12-step program or SMART Recovery, though plenty of people find CBT helpful on its own.
- Alcohol addiction treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach—rather, treatment is individualized and tailored to meet your needs.
The addition of AA steps, meetings and sponsors has helped the organization become recognizable as an effective support group to millions of people worldwide. Those who said AA was not helpful said they couldn’t relate to others in AA groups, found there was too much negativity and complaining, or felt they could handle the problem on their own. zantac and alcohol For a more detailed description of this work, please see Robinson, Price, Kurtz, and Brower (2009). AA meetings are gatherings where recovery from alcoholism is discussed. One perspective sees them as “quasi-ritualized therapeutic sessions run by and for, alcoholics”.[59] There are a variety of meeting types some of which are listed below.
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It can be easier to obtain and maintain sobriety without exposure to stressors, triggers, or temptations. In the study sample, 12-Step participation was common and intensive after inpatient treatment but fell off over time. However, despite declining attendance, early posttreatment attendance, even in relatively small amounts, predicted long-term helpful outcomes. Specifically, it was found that for every meeting attended there was a subsequent gain of approximately 2 days of abstinence. Although the drop in attendance was noted, consistent attendance over time predicted favorable outcomes.
Your General Service Office (G.S.O.), the Grapevine and the General Service Structure
By Sanjana GuptaSanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. This step requires you to actually reach out to the people you’ve hurt and make amends with them. The only exception is in situations where trying to make amends will do more harm than good, for instance by opening up old wounds or causing fresh pain, in which case it is better left alone. This step involves praying or employing other spiritual or mindfulness techniques. It can be both humbling and empowering to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and ask for assistance in dealing with your flaws.
Alcohol Support Options
It may also benefit those without a stable and sober support system that can provide encouragement and compassion outside of treatment hours. White placed AA and NA in a historical context, noting https://sober-home.org/ there have been more than 100 mutual aid recovery groups since the 1730s. Many of these groups are thriving alongside AA and NA currently, and, in the future, more will come into existence.
AA uses a 12-step model that begins with a person admitting that they’re powerless over alcohol and that their lives had become unmanageable. Marlon stuck with AA and went on to work in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. He’s now a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and CEO of both the nonprofit Vegas Stronger and rehab CrossRoads of Southern Nevada. It does not accept donations from people or organizations outside of AA. Following his hospital discharge, Wilson joined the Oxford Group and tried to recruit other alcoholics to the group.
This step requires you to stay vigilant on a daily basis, and admit to any faults you make as you go forward, so you can maintain your spiritual progress. Even if someone doesn’t put it in your treatment plan, Patterson advises people to try a few different options, including CBT and SMART Recovery, at least once if possible. While that certainly works for some people, it’s important to remember that you’re not “weaker” or “less” of a person for needing (or simply wanting) some additional help.
The first step is critical because it requires you to admit you have an addiction that needs to be treated. This can also make it easier for your friends and family members to accept and admit that you have a substance abuse problem. If one AA meeting isn’t working, try attending a different meeting or group altogether. Because it’s so accessible, you likely won’t have problems finding other meetings. Patterson believes CBT can be a helpful tool when done in conjunction with a 12-step program or SMART Recovery, though plenty of people find CBT helpful on its own.
If respondents felt they could moderate their use of drugs and alcohol, rather than stop completely, this predicted less abstinence at each follow-up occasion. Online meetings are digital meetings held on platforms such as Zoom. Offline meetings, also called “face to face”, “brick and mortar”, or “in-person” meetings, are held in a shared physical real-world location.
