Scientific Research Shows Effectiveness of 12 Step Based Treatment

May 11, 2017 alcoholdrugsos

For years, I worked in the addictions treatment field and taught graduate courses in addiction at a local university. I also was, and still am, a strong, impassioned proponent of ongoing involvement in 12 Step Programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous) as an integral part of the traditional modalities of addiction treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and other research based interventions. However, until about ten years ago, the only evidence of the effectiveness of the 12 Step Programs was dismissed by academics and mental health professionals as “anecdotal”, that is, reports based on stories by those directly involved in recovery such as 12 Step Program members, or on non-scientific surveys of AA or NA members, or statistics from treatment centers. Therefore, for the past 40 years or so, the only evidence of effective addiction treatment based on adequate and well controlled clinical investigations has supported treatment that did not include 12 Step Program involvement.

Happily, there is now increasing evidence, based on studies using valid scientific methodology, that the most effective treatment for addiction will include ongoing, significant involvement in 12 Step Programs, along with the traditional interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and other evidence based interventions. For an excellent summary of the evidence for the effectiveness of 12 Step based treatment, please go to this resource published by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, entitled, Recent Research Offers Compelling
Support for the Effectiveness of Twelve Step-based Treatment
Comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, www.alcoholdrugsos.com, 05/11/2017.

Risk Factors for Problem Drinking in Seniors

Researchers at University of Georgia, American Geriatrics Society Journal, recently reported that seniors (1600 individuals ages 57-85), with chronic multiple health conditions and depression were at a high risk of developing into probl m drinkers. This research is reported to be the first to document a link between chronic health problems, with depression, and consequential problem drinking in seniors.

The study found that seniors with multiple ongoing health conditions and depression were five times more likely to become problem drinkers than seniors with such health conditions and no depression. The summary of the study in the January 12, 2017, issues of ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170112110038.htm) stated:

“’These findings suggest that effective training in screening and referral for mental health and alcohol use issues for health care providers of older adults may better serve the approximate 4 million older adults who currently experience problem drinking in the U.S.,’ said Orion Mowbray, assistant professor at the UGA School of Social Work and lead author of the study.”

Add these findings to the fact that most seniors tend to develop greater sensitivity to the effects of alcohol as they age, and often are taking multiple prescribed, and over-the-counter, medications that can interact adversely with alcohol, for their chronic health conditions, it is important for seniors, and those that care for, and about, them to exercise caution in their use of alcoholic beverages.

As always, comments are invited on this post. Jan Edward Williams, Alcoholdrugsos Services, Ltd., http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com, 01/17/2017.