How Effective is Alcoholics Anonymous?
A research review has just been published.
I had an interesting text-messaging exchange this week with a couple of friends who are members of Alcoholics Anonymous. I’m a member of the sister program, Al-Anon that works to support those who live with alcoholics, whether actively drinking or at some level of recovery/sobriety. Both groups are based on the same Twelve Steps along with other principles that aid in recovery from every addiction or destructive habit imaginable.
The exchange began by one of my friends sharing an article entitled How Effective is Alcoholics Anonymous? Here is the link.
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/how-effective-is-alcoholics-anonymous
After reading the article I had some questions because, even though legitimate clinical studies show AA is very effective, it didn’t really get into why this is. I was left with the thought that researchers believe that behavior changed because of a sort of peer pressure. Now granted, the article didn’t say this, but it was in my mind too brief to give an explanation that aligned with my experience.
At this point, there are two options. First, I could go read the study for myself. I’m sure there is a lengthy and interesting discussion section where the authors go into more detail as to why they think AA is effective. And I might still do this.
Option two was to discuss it with my friends and get their opinions as to why they think AA works. Being busy at work, in the short run, I chose Option Two and I’m glad I did. Here was one of my friends response. Of course he shall remain anonymous.
Good article!
I believe the main reason that AA works is that an alcoholic talking to another alcoholic creates an immediate camaraderie of understanding the nature of the illness. We are able to speak the same language. Only someone who has experienced the illness and recovered from the hopeless state of mind and body can convey the mental, physical and spiritual analysis of the illness. That creates a belief and some trust that the person knows what he is talking about. In other words in layman's terms we know how you feel. We have felt the same way. You are not unique. When the new comer becomes a part of this new recovery society they are exposed to new principles and tools that reinforce daily a new way of living. There are over 130 twelve step programs all founded on the back of the AA program. Why, because it works.
How many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself, to someone struggling with a particular problem, “I know how you feel.”? Usually there is nothing substantive behind such a statement. We really, for the most part, have no clue how others feel. I’ve written about this before. This is why listening is so important when trying to support people going through grief. We can’t possibly relate to what they are going through and telling them how we have grieved in the past is to change the focus off caring about them and putting it on to ourselves.
But there is one important exception to this idea that it is best not to tell others you know how it feels, and that is in a room with others who are working on recovery themselves from the same problem or addiction.
In such a room, the newcomer is welcomed and people do listen to his or her story, but their healing will begin as they quietly listen to those who have been through it before them. This is where they will find hope and the instructions they need to crawl back out of their hole and rejoin the living.
And how does all of this relate to church members and attenders?
Your personal witness and testimony are important to share with others.
Unsolicited advice, as I wrote about yesterday, not so much.
We are fellow travelers, brothers and sisters, and should relate to one another with that level of affection.
