title: Participation in Alcoholics Anonymous and post-treatment abstinence from alcohol and other drugs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined associations between two types of AA participation (i.e., meeting attendance, having a sponsor) and two types of post-treatment abstinence (i.e., abstinence from alcohol, abstinence from drugs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents completed measures that assessed their demographic characteristics, the severity of their substance use, and their motivation to change when they enrolled in treatment (T1). They completed measures of AA participation at T1 and a 3-month follow-up assessment (T2), and measures of recent abstinence at T1 and a 6-month follow-up assessment (T3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  T2 sponsor was associated prospectively with T3 abstinence from alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having a sponsor served as a marker for subsequent abstinence. Future research can examine factors that may mediate or moderate the associations between having a sponsor and subsequent abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. Kingree@clemson.edu
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kingree
authors.forename: Martie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome