SelfHelp Groups

1
Chapter 34

• Self-Help Groups

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Intro

• The 12 Steps
• 1 in 10 adults has attended, some for family
  members
• AA is the least researched in rehab
• AA remains a mystery
• Lots of critics of AA
• AA has helped hundreds of thousands

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History of AA

• Born out of the temperance movement of the 1800s
• Taken from the Oxford group in the 1930s and Carl
  Jungs work
• Founded in 1935 after a stockbroker and a
  physician met. Bill Wilson called on Dr. Bob who
  was drinking.
• Today in 150 countries
• Membership of 2 million with 1.2 million in the
  US or Canada (68 of membership in N. America

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Elements of AA

• Page 447
• First three of the 12 steps focus on acceptance
  of ones limitations
• Steps 4-9 about change oriented activities
• Steps 10-12 are about maintaining spiritual way
  if life
• FREE

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AA and Religion

• Religion vs. spirituality
• Alcohol becomes like a God
• Develop own concept of God or Higher Power,
  something outside of oneself
• Emphasis on spiritual growth a) desire a
  relationship with higher power b) Self has been
  the center of the universe rather than a higher
  power

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Anonymity

• One reason many mtgs are closed
• Central concept of AA
• Court or employer mandates runs counter to AA
  central philosophy
• Breaking anonymity
• What happens to the famous?

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Outside Organizations

• AA does not affiliate
• Each group is self supporting
• Declining outside contributions

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Primary Purpose

• Carry the message
• Program for living life without alcohol/drugs

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Sponsorship

• Key element to AA program
• Sponsor offers guidance, confrontation, insight
  and support
• Does not take responsibility for sponsee
• Sets an example, is a tool, guide
• Unconditional

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How Does AA work

• Refer to talk by our speaker

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Effectiveness of AA

• Difficult to research
• People who join AA might be different than most
• Participation and frequency may be a factor in
  outcomes
• Many researchers say evidence does not support
  effectiveness
• Effectiveness far to complex to be measured by a
  single study

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Narcotics Anonymous

• Since 1953
• Focus is on the disease of addiction
• Not affiliated with AA

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Al-Anon Alateen

• Help for families who love someone who is
  alcoholic
• Members focus on themselves
• Learn it is ok to love an alcoholic
• 4 Cs

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Other Support Groups

• SMART-cognitive/behavioral
• Focus is on addictive thinking, relapse warning
  signs and internal locus of control
• SOS
• WFS
• MM

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Criticism of AA/12 step movement

• AA view is never recovered
• AA seen as hardcore
• Based on fear, demands conformity and fails to
  affirm the person
• Founded by 100 men and 1 women-white privilege
• Religious
• All or nothing

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