5 Million Attend Alcohol or Drug Self-Help Groups
A nationwide survey estimates that an average of 5 million people a year participate in self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous because of their use of alcohol or drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) survey revealed that 2.3 million of those participants were clean and sober during the past month.The survey findings were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for 2006 and 2007.
The NSDUH survey polls 67,500 people over age 12 each year. Participants were asked about their participation in self-help groups for alcohol use, illicit drug use or both.
1/3 Also Received Treatment
Some findings of the SAMHSA study include:
- An annual average of 5 million persons aged 12 or older attended a self-help group in the past year because of their use of alcohol or illicit drugs.
- 45.3 percent attended a group because of their alcohol use only and 21.8 percent attended a group because of their illicit drug use only, while 33.0 percent attended a group because of their use of both alcohol and illicit drugs.
- 45.1 percent of past year self-help group participants did not use alcohol or illicit drugs in the past month.
- Almost one third (32.7 percent) of individuals who attended a self-help group for their substance use during the past year also received specialty treatment for substance abuse in the past year.
Specialty treatment refers to substance abuse treatment received at a hospital as an inpatient, at a rehabilitation facility (either inpatient or outpatient), or at a mental health center, according to the SAMHSA report.
"This report adds to the substantial body of research indicating that participation in self-help groups can help support people battling substance abuse problems," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, in a news release. "Self-help groups often are used in conjunction with specialty treatment and to support individuals seeking help or sustaining their recovery."
The full report is available online.
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Comments
INEED HELP GETTING A COUPLE OF FEMALES IN AA FOR AWHILE TO DO A 12TH STEP ON A FRIEND IN EDMONDS WA SHES KILLING HERSELF WITH JOHN BARLEY CORN PLEASE E- MAIL ME THANX RONL
To Ron L: Check with your social services office or police. There may be a procedure for getting someone into protective custody for a 72 hour time period if they are in danger of harming themselves or others.
I don’t know who the author of this article is but apparently he or she is not very familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is NOT a “self-help” group. It IS however a spiritual fellowship that eschews the very idea of “self” help. It’s entire premise is based upon “powerlessness” and the kind of alcoholic who is absolutely unable to help them self - the opposite of self- help. If someone with a drinking problem can help themselves then the aren’t powerless - are they?
With articles like these floating around it is no wonder that so very many people in and out of the AA rooms have such a poor and misinformed impression of Alcoholics Anonymous and die trying to find a solution for a problem - under such misconception and ignorance of the Fellowship.
Peace,
Danny S
Danny S AA/NA are self help. You are not forced to go it is a “choice that you make” and not made for you.