It consists of one question in which the respondent evaluates his overall satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum). Czapiński used this scale during a two month interval, obtaining a reliability score of 0.76 [92]. In another project the coefficient of reliability at a two year interval measured, 0.65 [93]. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. This is especially important if you need to taper off a substance to avoid potentially harmful withdrawal symptoms. Though that 2020 review found AA was more effective than CBT, that won’t hold true for everyone.
Explore the program
Clients rated the helpfulness of 12-Step programs 8.02 on a 10-point scale with high scores indicating high levels of helpfulness. Clients stated that their top two reasons for attending AA and NA were to (1) promote recovery/sobriety and to (2) find support, acceptance, and friendship. As AA took off, there was a group of people who were struggling with addiction, but they lacked the type of support people received in AA. Because AA was designed to assist alcoholics, those who used recreational or prescription drugs weren’t included. As an answer to this dilemma, Narcotics Anonymous (or NA) was formed. Like AA, NA also utilizes the support group model of therapy because it has shown to be very effective in treating addictions of all kinds.
AA vs NA: Differences and Similarities You Should Know
These organizations have been pivotal in helping millions of people attain and sustain abstinence. Among AA individuals, hope measured by the Herth Hope Index correlated positively with evaluation of life and correlated negatively with the level of stress [86]. Narcotics Anonymous is a very similar group for those who struggle with any kind of drug addiction. Just like AA, NA meetings are held almost everywhere and anyone who wants to get clean or stay clean is welcome to attend. NA is also a nonprofit organization, meaning there are no fees or dues as their goal is not to make money, but to help people with addictions.
How we reviewed this article:
- It does not accept donations from people or organizations outside of AA.
- If you aren't ready to share, you can also benefit from simply listening and observing.
- Most of the study participants were men with secondary and vocational education.
This step encourages those in recovery to talk about their mistakes and weaknesses. The goal is to gain a sense of release of shame and guilt that can help people avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms going forward. For many members of NA, the program is the only thing they've found that actually worked. Anyone who has dealt with addiction knows that it is a struggle that can seem hopeless at times.
When you are ready to attend your first meeting, visit the Narcotics Anonymous website to find a local meeting. Meetings occur throughout the day almost every day of the week. Depending on where you live, there should be many options to choose from. This step is about living with intention and continuing to check in to ensure that the individual stays focused on their values and the demands of reality. "We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."
Involvement in AA and meeting attendance were positively related to the percentage of days abstinent. Study participants mentioned several qualities of the AA fellowship and the AA program as helpful, such as identifying with other alcoholics, sharing, talking, and telling stories; having a sponsor, and working the steps. Those who said AA was not helpful said https://sober-home.org/what-is-post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-paws/ they couldn't relate to others in AA groups, found there was too much negativity and complaining, or felt they could handle the problem on their own. For a more detailed description of this work, please see Robinson, Price, Kurtz, and Brower (2009). We do not impose our experience with problem drinking on others, but we do share it when we are asked to do so.
Even if someone doesn’t put it in your treatment plan, Patterson advises people to try a few different options, including CBT and SMART Recovery, at least once if possible. While that certainly works for some people, it’s important to remember that you’re not “weaker” or “less” of a person for needing (or simply wanting) some additional help. A recent but limited study indicates it may be as effective as the 12-step model.
NA believes in an abstinence model of recovery, which means being completely drug free. But if you’re addicted to opioids, you may be taking buprenorphine maintenance therapy (BMT). The group’s official position is that the only criteria for membership is a desire to stop using drugs. Recent studies have indicated that involvement in AA influenced recovery was mostly measured as abstinence and reduced alcohol use through the social and spiritual change mechanisms [103].
This free program provides support in the form of regular group meetings and fellowship with other people with addictions. Join our supportive sober community where each day becomes a step towards personal growth and lasting positive change. If you’re religious or spiritual, you can do this soul-searching through your prayers to God or a higher power.
To read more about this research, please see Laudet (2008a, 2008b). Given the effectiveness of 12-Step participation and the observation that attrition rates are high, Laudet has also investigated attitudes https://sober-home.org/ toward AA and NA among individuals in an outpatient treatment program. Clients rated the importance of 12-Step programs to recovery 8.7 on a 10-point scale with high scores indicating higher importance.
However, as you dig deeper, you’ll realize that’s not the case at all. While there are some similarities between the two groups, there are also some slight differences. You might be an alcoholic who is more comfortable with healing your addiction than blaming alcohol. If that is how you feel, Narcotics Anonymous might be the better option for you.
The goal of NA is to create a community where people with substance use issues help each other on the road to recovery. AA meetings are gatherings where recovery from alcoholism is discussed. One perspective sees them as "quasi-ritualized therapeutic sessions run by and for, alcoholics".[59] There are a variety of meeting types some of which are listed below. At some point during the meeting a basket is passed around for voluntary donations. AA's 7th tradition requires that groups be self-supporting, "declining outside contributions".[14] Weekly meetings are listed in local AA directories in print, online and in apps.
At 4-, 6-, and 8-year follow-up, girls (40% of the sample) had more abstinent days than boys. If respondents felt they could moderate their use of drugs and alcohol, rather than stop completely, this predicted less abstinence at each follow-up occasion. Typically, both NA and AA meetings begin with reading the 12 Steps.
The same function facilitates finding meaning in life, as religion can play with the philosophy of AA and 12-step programmes [3,4]. In other words, in individuals for whom AA philosophy is an important value, this importance translates into an attitude in life manifesting itself in a specific perception of reality, the emotional attitude to it, and the behaviour towards it. Additionally, like other religious meaning systems, it can influence the formation of goals for self-regulation [115,116]. Some authors have confirmed that involvement in self-help fellowships among individuals with alcohol and drug dependence is an effective way to find meaning in life [57,58,59,60,61,62].
The roots of this self-help movement come from the United States and date back to 1935. 12-step programs are designed to help people who are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs. If you or a loved one have a substance abuse problem and want to get help, you should go to an AA, NA, or CA meeting near you. If you’re already undergoing treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about whether a 12-step program can be beneficial to you. In the future, research samples should be bigger and selected for alcohol-dependent individuals who have recently started their AA participation and do not yet experience a stable abstinence.
This can also make it easier for your friends and family members to accept and admit that you have a substance abuse problem. Statistics of demographic variables are presented in Table 1. Most of the study participants were men with secondary and vocational education.