title: A review of Alcoholics Anonymous/ Narcotics Anonymous programs for teens.
abstract: The investigation of the applicability of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) for teens has only been a subject of empirical research investigation since the early 1990s. In the present review, the author describes teen involvement in AA/NA programming, provides an exhaustive review of the outcomes of 19 studies that used an AA/NA model as part of their formal teen substance abuse treatment programs, and provides data on the effects of AA/NA attendance on abstinence at follow-up, on which youth tend to become involved in AA/NA, and on mediation of the benefits of AA/NA participation. In addition, the author suggests the reasons for somewhat limited participation by teens in more informal, community-based 12-step meetings, and makes suggestions for maximizing participation at meetings in the community. The author concludes that AA/ NA participation is a valuable modality of substance abuse treatment for teens and that much can be done to increase teen participation, though more research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803-4737, USA. ssussma@usc.edu
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sussman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult