AA Attendance by Teens Linked to Improved Outcomes

AA Attendance by Teens Linked to Improved Outcomes
June 5, 2008

Research Summary

Teens who attended Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous after leaving addiction treatment had better outcomes even if they eventually stopped going to self-help meetings, HealthDay News reported June 4.

Researchers tracked 160 teens enrolled in treatment in California. "We found that patients who attended more AA and/or NA meetings in the first six months post-treatment had better longer term outcomes, but this early participation effect did not last forever -- it weakened over time," said study author John F. Kelly of the MGH-Harvard Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"The best outcomes achieved into young adulthood were for those patients who continued to go to AA and/or NA," Kelly said. "In terms of a real-world recovery metric, we found that for each AA/NA meeting that a youth attended, they gained a subsequent two days of abstinence, independent of all other factors that were also associated with a better outcome."

Kelly said that the 12-step programs appealed most to patients with the most severe addictions and those who believed that they could not use alcohol or other drugs in moderation.

"During the first six months post-treatment, even small amounts of AA/NA participation -- such as once per week -- was associated with improved outcome, and three meetings per week was associated with complete abstinence," added Kelly. "This suggests youth may not need to attend as frequently as every day, sometimes recommended clinically, to achieve very good outcomes."

The study was published online in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

This article summarizes an external report or press release on research published in a scientific journal. When available, links to the sources are provided above.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by T Aquinas on 06 Jun 08 12:27 PM EDT

This study is excellent news. Evidence based practice is hard to argue with. However, this is a very small sample. Is there a larger study planned to confirm these happy results?

Posted by Erik H. on 06 Jun 08 02:42 PM EDT

I began my recovery at an adolescent treatment facility in April, 1987. I recently celebrated 21 years! Treatment followed by years of active 12 step fellowship (N.A.) has worked miracles in my life!

Posted by Barb on 07 Jun 08 07:33 AM EDT

Makes sense. Connection to others is key! So why aren't there more meetings for younger people?

Posted by Amy on 09 Jun 08 12:22 AM EDT

I'm conerned with the statement, "This suggests youth may not need to attend as frequently as every day, sometimes recommended clinically, to achieve very good outcomes," because it alludes that since you may be young, you can lick in fewer meetings what others have difficulty with. The fact is, a general start of "90 meetings in 90 days" give a strong foundation and consistency. As I teen, I was expected to consistently go to school 5 days a week, or face the penalties. As a necomer, those penalities can be going back out and using, or even death. I'm a recovering addict and I work a program. I also thought I was "special" and didn't need to build a consistent routine starting with 90 meetings in 90 days. I was wrong. I relapsed within six months from not having that consistency. So while this article gives me hope for the addicted youth, it also leaves just as concerned as before.

Posted by John French on 09 Jun 08 12:55 PM EDT

There are barrels full of studies that show self-selected AA/NA attendance enhances success after treatment, at whatever age examined. So this small study of kids that self select treatment and then 12 step involvement can go in the hopper. The point was made years ago. Now lets design a GOOD clinical trial comparing CBT and 12 step facilitation for kids, with a long follow-up.

Posted by Peter O'Loughlin on 19 Jun 08 01:48 PM EDT

John French seeks to diminish this evidence by the introduction of a non defined phrase 'self selected' whatever that might mean. He also implies that the study is too small. May I therefore refer him to Project Match among the wealth of independent evidence which testifies to the effectiveness of both NA & AA. Insofar as cbt is concerned I would refer him to the Cochrane review which concludes: 'However, the low abstinence rate indicated that cannabis dependence is not easily treated by psychotherapies in outpatient settings'. On the other hand cbt has proven itself to be a useful tool in dealing with anxiety disorders,. Given that the latter is a common cause of relapse among those seeking to recover from substance abuse, its utilization after abstinence has been achieved can only act as another support pillar for the bridge leading to the road of recovery. I would also refer John to Prochaska & Diclemente's excellent works which clearly establishes the role of pyschotherapeutic models in the various stages of change.

Posted by tpotts on 26 Jun 08 09:51 AM EDT

I would like to point out that outcomes to NA/AA effectiveness rarely reflect accurate data. How do you measure NA/AA effectiveness? SELF REPORT (addicts lie) How do you force such members to take a test? perhaps you survey individuals on probation as to AA NA attendence (again addicts lie). Perhaps you have individuals paid for a 90 day study, in which they are tested and monitored for attendence (how long is the study, does the payment issue interfere), or perhaps you survey longterm NA/AA members in which of course this treatment is the best because it is the one THEY use or has worked for THEM. The problem with these studies is that they define treatment. NA/AA can either be beneficial or detrimental to someones recovery depending on their experience with it.

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