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Straight-Newsweek, June 4, 1984 |
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Alcoholism Treatment
The
Human Relations Area Files has announced the conclusions
reached through a twelve-month review of 134 studies bearing
on the effectiveness of Alcoholics A n o n y m o u s (A.A.)
and counseling in the treatment of alcoholism. The effectiveness
of these two approaches is a key issue, as more than 50
per cent of the 2 million people treated for alcoholism
in the United States each year are involved in one or both
of these types of programs.
The
key conclusions about Alcoholics Anonymous are:
There
is no scientific evidence that Alcoholics Anonymous is more
effective than other approaches used in alcoholism treatment.
What evidence does exist suggests that A.A. is about as
effective as most other approaches.
The
majority of people who turn to A.A. for help with their
abusive drinking drop out of the program before they become
meaningfully involved in it. In this regard, A.A. is much
like other programs, which also suffer from high dropout
rates.
Alcoholics
Anonymous seems to be most effective when used for follow-up
care by persons who have recently completed an inpatient
rehabilitation program.
While Alcoholics Anonymous attracts a wide range of people
from all walks of life, it is clear that A.A. works for
only a minority of alcoholics. Unfortunately, research to
date has not yet identified the specific social and psychological
characteristics which distinguish those people most likely
to benefit from involvement in A.A.
The
key conclusion about Al-Anon (for relatives/friends of alcoholics)
is:
Members
of Al-Anon who are married to men with drinking problems
are better able to cope than nonmembers with their husbands’
abusive drinking and related problems.
The
key conclusions about counseling are:
Although
hard scientific evidence is lacking, the available evidence
suggests that counseling is often an effective component
of the alcoholism treatment program.
Recovered
alcoholics are not more effective counselors than nonalcoholics.
Counselors
with extensive work or professional experience are not necessarily
more effective than those with limited experience.
Participation
in a formal counselor training program of ten increases
a counselor’s knowledge about alcoholism and sharpens
his or her therapeutic skills.
The
review project was directed by David Levinson and resulted
in the publication of A Guide to Alcoholism Treatment Research:
Volume III. Alcoholics Anonymous and Counseling.
(Source:
Society, July/August 1984)
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