Effectiveness of 12-step programs in treating alcohol addiction

¶ … 12 Step groups

step programs are famous for their role in the breaking of addictions. The programs cover such areas of addiction such as gambling, drug, and alcohol. Below is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 12 step program in breaking addiction to alcohol.

Background of Alcoholism

Facts concerning the abuse of alcohol are often overlooked as it is a frequently used drug that can be obtained from the nearest store or ordered from a menu in a restaurant. Alcohol abuse statistics raise several alarms but focusing the attention of the public to the alcohol effects can help raise awareness and help in the fighting of alcoholism (Get The Facts).

Just a few drinkers of alcohol stop consumption with the first bottle. Also, an evening of heavy consumption is not always done alone (Get The Facts). Chronically consuming alcohol leads to a host of effects. When done over a prolonged period of time, it can cause inflammation of the liver (alcohol induced hepatitis) which can develop further to cirrhosis. An increased blood pressure as well the rate at which the heart beats that is due to drinking of alcohol moderately over a long period of time can cause enlargement and underperformance of the heart (alcohol cardiomyopathy).

Another effect of consumption of alcohol that is not as popular is a higher occurrence of various cancers (Get The Facts). Besides the impacts on the health of the individual, the association of alcohol with accidents and crime also need to be factored in (Get The Facts).

When all is said and done, the cost of abusing alcohol when given a dollar figure is hundreds of billions. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that close to 90, 000 individuals pass away every year due to causes linked to alcohol. This places alcohol as the third highest preventable killer in the United States (Get The Facts).

Abuse of alcohol can be defined as someone having unhealthy or maladaptive drinking behavior. This could encompass excessive drinking at one time, or drinking daily (Get The Facts). Abusers of alcohol are aware of the detrimental effects of alcohol but find it hard to stop the harmful habit. On continued abuse, a stage of alcohol dependence is reached. To be considered alcohol dependent, one must meet three or more of the conditions below (Get The Facts):

Tolerance to alcohol, or needing more alcohol to attain the same wanted effect

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms on abstaining

Using alcohol in lengths or quantities bigger than was intended

A constant desire to reduce consumption of alcohol

Dedicating more time and energy to getting alcohol

Lowered interest in recreational or social activities because of alcohol

Continued alcoholism despite the appreciation of the problems the habit is causing

A.A and Twelve Steps

The success of the A.A program relative to other programs is that a former alcoholic is more capable of helping a drinker. In other words, the program operation is in a former alcoholic sharing his experiences as a former alcoholic and his sobriety in the A.A. program then invites the new one to join the A.A. Fellowship (AA Favt File Introduction).

The core of the personal recovery program can be found in the 12 steps describing the experiences of the initial AA members (AA Fact File Introduction):

They made the admission that they had no power over alcohol -- that they couldn't manage their lives any longer.

They had the belief that a power other than themselves can restore their sanity.

They decided to turn their will and lives to God's care as they comprehended Him

Made a fearless inventory of their morals.

Made an admission to God, to themselves and to other humans the particular nature of the wrongs they had committed.

They were accepting of God removing all these character defects.

They humbly asked God to do away with their shortcomings.

They listed all the people to whom they had caused harm, and were willing to amend the wrongs they had done.

They made amends directly to such individuals where it was possible to do so without causing harm to anyone.

They continued to pay attention to the moments they were on the wrong and immediately admitted to their wrongs.

They sought to improve their conscious contact with God as they understood God to be through meditation and prayer.

With the awakening they had had with following the steps above, they carried the message to other alcoholics and practiced the principles daily in their affairs.

New members are not requested to follow all the 12 steps if they feel that they are not able to. They are asked to be open minded and to be in attendance in meetings that former alcoholics detail the experiences they had as they became sober and also to study the AA program literature (AA Fact File Introduction). AA members often emphasize to the new members that only the drinkers themselves can make an accurate determination if they are indeed alcoholics. Also, it is clarified that all evidence points to the fact that alcoholism is in fact a progressive disease, which its curing cannot be done ordinarily, but can be arrested by abstaining completely from all forms of alcohol (AA Fact File Introduction).

In its first decade, the AA fellowship got massive experience that indicated that some attitudes of the group were instrumental in the survival of the fellowship's structure (AA Fact File Introduction). In the year 1946, in the journal of the fellowship, the AA Grapevine, the principles were written down by the founding members as well as the early participants and called the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The principles gained acceptance and the endorsement of the whole membership at AA's International Convention that took place in 1950 at Cleveland, Ohio. The traditions include:

1.

That the common welfare of the fellowship comes first and that personal recovery is dependent upon the unity of AA.

2.

For the purpose of the group there will be only one ultimate authority -- a God who is loving as God may express himself in the conscience of the group. The leaders at AA are just trusted servants -- they are not to govern.

3.

That the AA membership has only one requirement- one's desire to quit drinking

4.

The groups will be independent of each other except in cases that concerns other AA groups.

5.

The purpose of each group is carrying out its message to the suffering alcoholics.

6.

No AA group will endorse, give financial assistance, or lend the name of the AA to a related enterprise or facility, lest money problems, and problems of prestige and property divert the fellowship from its main purpose.

7.

All AA groups will be self-supporting and will decline any contributions from outside.

8.

Alcoholics anonymous shall forever be nonprofessional, but the service centers can have special workers.

9.

As such, Alcoholics Anonymous should remain unorganized; but it can establish committees or service boards that will be responsible directly to the people being served.

10.

Alcoholics Anonymous will have no interest in issues from outside and so the name of the AA shall never be caught in public controversy.

11.

The group's public relations policy shall be founded on attraction and not promotion; the group shall maintain personal anonymity in the press, films and radio.

12.

State of anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all traditions of the group; and it shall remind them to always put principles before personalities.

Effectiveness of 12- Step and A.A.

A Davis, Tax and Campbell (2002) study evaluates how successful the standard alcoholism treatment, individual and group therapy with AA emphasis is when compared to an approach with minimal treatment that consists of movies on alcohol education and the resulting effects of abstaining from any forms of alcohol for a period of six months. At the take of the study, both the patient and the screener were blind to the study till there was a determination of eligibility. Once this was determined, it was opened up (Campbell, David, Lieber and Tax, 2002). Requirements for eligibility consisted of patients who were dependent on alcohol and recently consumed alcohol. The total number of patients in the two groups was one hundred and five men who were aged between 29 and 65 and come from almost similar socio-economic backgrounds. The major conclusion arrived at after the study was that AA attendees achieved higher abstinence to alcohol than those who were taking minimal treatment (Campbell, David, Lieber and Tax, 2002).

One other study indicated that participants on only the AA program and no treatment for abuse of alcohol were more likely to have abstained from alcohol at year 1, year 3 and year 8 time frames (Finney, Moos, and Timko, 2000). Further, people who had been given AA on top of formal treatment fared better than the others with only formal treatment. They reflected better abstinence levels at the time frames considered (Finney, Lesar, Moos and Timko, 2000). The conclusion, as far as abstinence rates is concerned, is that AA involvement results in better results than the formal treatments. The same conclusion was reached by a six-month research that focused on the link between the attendances of meetings of AA, before, during and following the inpatient treatment as well as continued alcohol abstinence (Finney, Lasar, Moos and Timko, 2000). People drawn from 150 areas cutting across various demographics were interviewed once more six months later following the treatment completion.

The studies give evidence showing that initial formal alcoholism treatment plus an involvement in AA has better chances of helping individuals achieve higher rates of abstinence than any other available options. Clearly shown in the research is the fact that coupling AA with outpatient and impatient plans of treatment, is beneficial in ensuring sobriety for longer time periods than having alcoholics not attend AA meetings at all. As concerns maintaining alcohol abstinence, treatments that do not integrate AA or AA programs without formal treatments is less effective when compared to programs that involve both programs. While the studies discussed point to a positive correlation between AA and treatment, the question to ask is actually why? The treatments sampled in the study were from varied facilities, possibly having different philosophies of treatment with some programs being inpatient while others being outpatient. The treatments therefore varied, the only constant being AA. More studies should therefore be done to establish which AA factors may have caused the difference. Any future research should have a focus on the program particularly as it relates to those who have gotten treatment. What in AA attendance resulted in the difference recorded? Studies ought to research if the patients that uphold alcohol abstinence participated in the 12 step work, sponsorship or service work. Do those who provide sponsorship to other members of the AA more likely to be abstinent from alcohol themselves). What is important is finding out if the successful ones participate in a particular activity in the group or if the success can just be attributed to the group support received.

Alternative Treatments

Alcoholism involves daily alcohol consumption so as to escape physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. The condition takes time to develop while alcohol lowers the amounts of some chemicals in the brain, specifically those that are involved in impulse control and pleasurable feelings (Cooper). It is better to use natural methods of treatment to complement counseling and other standard medication procedures. The University of Maryland Medical Center made a review of a number of studies that evaluated acupuncture alcoholism treatment, and discovered some other studies that made the conclusion that it can be an effective method for the reduction of cravings as well as easing withdrawal symptoms (Cooper). This should be made use of together with some other treatments and not alone. A study that was led by W.E. Sevrus and published in Archives of General Psychiatry in April 1999 discovered that depression could be eased by consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is present in evening primrose oil, fish oil, flaxseed oil and black currant oil. Consumption of Omega-3 should be as indicated on the labels of the products.

Arsenicum has the capability to reduce compulsiveness and anxiety. It can be of great help if one is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Nux vomica can be used to lower compulsiveness and irritability that are accompanied by nausea, vomiting and constipation. Lachesis reduces alcohol cravings, trouble swallowing and headaches (Cooper). Staphysagria is made use of in the treatment of angry persons with pent up emotions following past physical, psychological or sexual abuse. Kudzu is a herb that discourages consumption of alcohol through the creation of facial redness and swelling and nausea if taken before one drinks (Cooper). Consume 10 milligrams thrice a day. Milk thistle which has been widely studied for the treatment of disorders of the liver helps in the prevention and treatment of various conditions of the liver including cirrhosis which is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Take 600 milligrams daily. It can result in mild diarrhea on initial intake. Reishi is used in the prevention of cirrhosis and fatty liver. Take 3,000 milligrams thrice a day. Soy lecithin helps in the regeneration of liver cells and protects the liver from harmful toxins (Cooper). Take 3,000 milligrams daily. Dandelion is made use of in treating disorders of the liver since it has the ability of detoxifying the body. Dandelion can also be used to contain withdrawal symptoms. Consumption should be as the label directs.

"References"

1)

Get the Facts on Alcohol Abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://drugabuse.com/library/get-the-facts-on-alcohol-abuse/

2)

The Birth of A.A. And Its Growth in the U.S./Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/historical-data-the-birth-of-aa-and-its-growth-in-the-uscanada

3)

What Is A.A. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015 from http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/what-is-aa

4)

AA Fact File Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015 from http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA

5)

Campbell, Davis, Lieber, & Tax. (2002). A trial of standard treatment vs. A minimal treatment control. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,23, 9-19.

6)

Finney, Lesar, Moos, & Timko. (2000). Long-term outcomes of alcohol use disorders: Comparing untreated individuals with those in alcoholics anonymous and formal treatment. Journal of Studies on Alcohol,61, 529-548.

7)

Cooper, K. (n.d.). Natural Ways to Cure Alcohol Addiction. Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://www.ehow.com/way_5285555_natural-ways-cure-alcohol-addiction.html