A New York Times article stated that AA claims that up to 75% of its members stay abstinent. Alcoholics Anonymous’ Big Book touts about a 50% success rate, stating that another 25% remain sober after some relapses.
How effective is the AA?
AA shines. Most of the studies that measured abstinence found AA was significantly better than other interventions or no intervention. In one study, it was found to be 60% more effective.
Why does AA have such a low success rate?
Problem #1 — The Success Rate of AA Is Low Because the Wrong People Are Forced to Go. This is the biggest problem affecting the success rate of AA — people are forced to go who shouldn’t be there. Look, AA is for people who are bottom-of-the-barrel drunks and drug addicts.
What are the disadvantages of AA?
What are the Cons of AA?
- Members are encouraged, although not required to rely on a “higher power” as the most effective means of recovery.
- Lack of concrete evidence associated with outcomes.
- Emphasis on complete abstinence.
- Reliance on a higher power presents religious undertones, a problem sometimes for atheists.
Which AA step is the hardest?
Whether you’re working the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, or any other program, the most difficult of all the steps probably step 5. This is the one that asks us to admit “our wrongs” and to do so in front of our higher power and another person.
What is the failure rate of AA?
A New York Times article stated that AA claims that up to 75% of its members stay abstinent. Alcoholics Anonymous’ Big Book touts about a 50% success rate, stating that another 25% remain sober after some relapses.
What is the average length of sobriety in AA?
10 years
14 percent of AA members stay sober between 10 and 20 years. 22 percent of AA members stay sober 20 or more years. The average length of AA member sobriety is nearly 10 years.
Do people grow out of AA?
You cannot outgrow the Alcoholics Anonymous program because it is designed with constant maintenance in mind. The AA program is designed to help people get sober but it is also designed to help people maintain sobriety and recovery in the long term.
Is the AA declining?
There has been stability in the latest decade. Teens in North America (age 15 – 19) have been pretty steady from 2005 (3.6% of Americans) to 2015 (3.2% of Americans). So in a period where the USA has seen a very slight decline in the youth, we have seen a sharp decline in AA youth.
Is AA membership declining?
To let the cat out of the bag, worldwide AA membership is down 6% over last year. AA has largely had flat membership numbers since 1991 (2.1 Million members). Membership isn’t down everywhere but USA and Canadian membership is down about 10%.
Is it OK to leave AA?
Whatever your path is, know this: your recovery will evolve and your needs will change. It is absolutely okay to leave AA. That is your right as a person in recovery, and no one has the right to direct you otherwise.
Are there any drawbacks to the 12-step program?
Critics of 12-step programs cite the lack of published success rates (there is no system to track effectiveness in the programs anyway). Some studies suggest that attrition rates, especially in the first 90 days of attendance, are high (see B.
Which one is a main disadvantage of alcoholism?
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
How long should it take to go through the 12 steps?
How Long Do 12-Step Programs Take? The average length of time it takes for someone to work through the 12 steps once can vary. Many 12-step sponsors encourage sponsees and newcomers in AA and other 12-step programs to attend 90 meetings in 90 days, or at least one meeting a day for three months.
What are fears in AA?
Common Fears in Recovery
- The fear that life will not be enjoyable again (particularly prominent during early sobriety)
- Staying sober will require too much effort.
- Fear of journeying into unknown territory.
- Fear of facing life challenges without a chemical crutch.
- Fear of failure or, alternately, success.
- Financial concerns.
How long does it take to complete the steps in AA?
Most sponsors encourage the AA newcomer to attend 90 meetings in 90 days. That may seem like a lot and it may seem like a long time to commit to going to meetings. However, most 12-step programs, including those for people addicted to drugs, encourage new members to commit to those 90 meetings in 90 days.
What has the highest relapse rate?
Research shows that alcohol and opioids have the highest rates of relapse, with some studies indicating a relapse rate for alcohol as high as 80 percent during the first year after treatment. Similarly, some studies suggest a relapse rate for opioids as high as 80 to 95 percent during the first year after treatment.
What is wrong with the 12 step program?
Lack of structure.
While 12-step programs can provide some structure to your life, you may spend only about an hour a week in the 12-step meetings themselves—and they typically provide little to no framework for what to do with the rest of your time.
What is the relapse rate?
Recent drug relapse statistics show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within the year following treatment. Researchers estimate that more than 2/3 of individuals in recovery relapse within weeks to months of beginning addiction treatment.
What part of sobriety is the hardest?
For many people, the first few weeks of sobriety are the hardest. You may have withdrawal symptoms that are physically and emotionally uncomfortable. Cravings are also common during this time, which can tempt you to relapse. Treatment can help you get through this challenging period.
What are the odds of staying sober?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 33% or “one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later.” You can increase the odds of staying sober by finding support and a sober living community.