Are the Twelve Steps more acceptable to drug users than to drinkers? A comparison of experiences of and attitudes to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) among 200 substance misusers attending inpatient detoxification.
The present study is a cross-sectional interview-based investigation comparing experiences of and attitudes towards Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in a sample of 200 patients attending inpatient substance misuse detoxification services. Two hundred consecutive admissions were recruited; 100 each from one drug and one alcohol in-patient treatment service in which attendance at AA/NA was a voluntary adjunct to a generic treatment programme. Although there were no differences in the history of AA/NA attendance, the drug users (who were on average younger) reported significantly more positive attitudes towards AA/NA, more willingness to attend during their in-patient treatment and greater intention to attend following completion of their detoxification. In particular, despite no differences in spiritual/religious orientation, the drug users reported more positive views of the Twelve Steps. As AA/NA remain popular and accessible forms of substance misuse support, it is critical that we develop a clearer understanding of their impact and of the scope for their integration with generic forms of substance misuse treatment.
Best
D W
DW
National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Addiction Sciences Building, 4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK. D.Best@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Harris
J C
JC
Gossop
M
M
Manning
V C
VC
Man
L H
LH
Marshall
J
J
Bearn
J
J
Strang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome