Alcoholism in America Part 3

So, how effective is this program, established by two former alcoholics in a brownstone house in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935? As stated earlier, it is estimated that there are over 120,000 organized peer-led groups with over 2,000,000 active members in over 180 countries. So, there must be some effectiveness in attending a weekly group meeting, having a sponsor, and following the recommended 12 steps for success.  

One of the reasons could be anonymity, from which the word anonymous derides. In their open and closed meetings, anonymity is a huge deal. People gathered with other strangers may want to remain unknown until trust and confidence are built. People want to feel safe in an environment where no judgment, gossip, or talking behind one’s back is present in the meeting. With the longevity of 86 years in existence in America and abroad, the program must be doing something right. Let us look at some statistics.  

Are You Ready to Change?

Measuring and defining A.A.’s success may be somewhat tricky at times since membership numbers often change from time to time. However, A.A. claims about 50 percent of its members have completed the program and remained sober, while another 25 percent obtain sobriety after relapsing. The average length of sobriety is nearly 10 years. Allen, J. P. (2000).

However, some critics argue that the success rate is only between 5 and 10 percent. After three years, half of the AA members were still sober, and one-fourth of those who enrolled in formal treatment appeared still sober. Moreover, after eight years, 49 percent of Alcoholics Anonymous members seemed sober, and 46 percent of people who enrolled in formal treatment were still sober. However, regardless of whether AA is effective, individuals still attend weekly group meetings to hear others who have overcome it and share their personal stories.  

While A.A. has many benefits, it is hard to determine if the program is truly effective. It seems to be a difficult task to conduct an ongoing effectiveness research method, and given the anonymity of the program, tracking people who have dropped out appears to be strenuous, Sharma, M., & Branscum, P. (2010)

For more information for yourself, a friend or a family member please visit https://www.aa.org