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The Impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on Other Substance Abuse-Related Twelve-Step Programs

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Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 18))

Abstract

This chapter explores the influence of the AA model on self-help fellowships addressing problems of drug dependence. Fellowships that have adapted the twelve-step recovery model to other substances of abuse are reviewed; next similarities and differences between AA and drug-recovery twelve-step organizations are examined; finally, we present empirical findings on patterns of attendance and perceptions of AA and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) among polydrug-dependent populations, many of whom are cross-addicted to alcohol. Future directions in twelve-step research are noted in closing.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    1 Data are drawn from White and Madara (1996), Humphreys (2004) and the individual organizations' websites listed in resources in Appendix

  2. 2.

    “More than 7,500 AA members from the U.S. and Canada participated in a random survey of the membership.” AA 2004 membership survey, AA World Services, 2005

  3. 3.

    From survey “returned by almost half of the 13,000 attendees at the 2003 NA World Convention held in San Diego, California” (NA World Services, 2005)

  4. 4.

    Chi Square

  5. 5.

    May add up to over 100% because up to three answers were coded

  6. 6.

    Among participants who have attended both AA and NA (N = 78)

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Acknowledgments

The preparation of this chapter was supported by NIDA Grants R01DA14409 and R01DA015133.

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Correspondence to Alexandre B. Laudet .

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Appendices

Appendix

Online resources for drug addiction recovery twelve-step fellowships

Cocaine Anonymous (CA) http://www.ca.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) http://www.crystalmeth.org/

Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) http://www.doubletroubleinrecovery.org/index.htm

Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) http://www.dualrecovery.org/

Heroin Anonymous (HA) http://www.heroin-anonymous.org/

Marijuana Anonymous (MA) http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Overcomers outreach http://www.overcomersoutreach.org/

Recoveries Anonymous (RA) http://www.r-a.org/

Recoveries Anonymous (RA) http://www.r-a.org/

Online resources for drug addiction recovery twelve-step fellowships

Cocaine Anonymous (CA) http://www.ca.org/

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) http://www.crystalmeth.org/

Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) http://www.doubletroubleinrecovery. org/index.htm

Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) http://www.dualrecovery.org/

Heroin Anonymous (HA) http://www.heroin-anonymous.org/

Marijuana Anonymous (MA) http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Overcomers outreach http://www.overcomersoutreach.org/

Recoveries Anonymous (RA) http://www.r-a.org/

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Laudet, A.B. (2008). The Impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on Other Substance Abuse-Related Twelve-Step Programs. In: Kaskutas, L., Galanter, M. (eds) Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 18. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77725-2_5

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