Helping other alcoholics in alcoholics anonymous and drinking outcomes: findings from project MATCH.
OBJECTIVE
Although Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the largest mutual-help organization for alcoholics in the world, its specific mechanisms that mobilize and sustain behavior change are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to examine prospectively the relationship between helping other alcoholics and relapse in the year following treatment for alcohol use disorders.


METHODS
Data were derived from Project MATCH, a longitudinal prospective investigation of the efficacy of three behavioral treatments for alcohol abuse and dependence. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to calculate probabilities of time to alcohol relapse. To identify the unique value of helping other alcoholics when controlling for the number of AA meetings attended, proportional hazards regressions were conducted to determine whether the likelihood of relapse was lower for those who were helping other alcoholics.


RESULTS
There were no demographic differences that distinguished participants in regard to involvement in helping other alcoholics, with the exception of age; those who were helping other alcoholics were, on average, 3 years older than those who were not helping alcoholics. Those who were helping were significantly less likely to relapse in the year following treatment, independent of the number of AA meetings attended.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide compelling evidence that recovering alcoholics who help other alcoholics maintain long-term sobriety following formal treatment are themselves better able to maintain their own sobriety. Clinicians who treat persons with substance abuse disorders should encourage their clients to help other recovering alcoholics to stay sober.
Pagano
Maria E
ME
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. Maria_Pagano@Brown.edu
Friend
Karen B
KB
Tonigan
J Scott
JS
Stout
Robert L
RL
D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome