title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Addiction Sciences Building, 4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK. D.Best@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gossop
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bearn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strang
mesh_terms: 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