Posted by Lakeside on 11th June 2008
The concepts, principles, practices, and suggested 12 steps to recovery of the 12-step recovery approach to treating addictive disorders are examined.
Twelve-step recovery approaches are complex, multidimensional, biopsychosocial, and spiritual programs widely available in the United States and some other countries to people with addictive disorders, their family members, and significant others.
it has not been widely recognized that these programs are complex programs for living and address many issues other than alcohol and drug consumption.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, Alateen, and other 12-step recovery groups have flourished for the better part of the twentieth century, whereas many other treatment approaches have been tried and abandoned.
Although much discussion has centered on their spiritual emphasis, 12-step recovery approaches are clearly psychosocial recovery programs in which many important features entirely consistent with
- behavior modification,
- recent cognitive therapies,
- modern social learning theories,
- social psychology, and
- sociology are very much in evidence.
Although many people are aware that 12-step recovery approaches are designed to deal specifically with drinking and drug misuse, it has not been widely recognized that these programs are complex programs for living and address many issues other than alcohol and drug consumption.
By JACK Wallace. In: P.J. Ott, R.E. Tarter, and R.T. Ammerman (Eds.), Sourcebook On Substance Abuse: Etiology Epidemiology, Assessment, and treatment. Allyn & Bacon 1999.
 |
Sourcebook on Substance Abuse: Etiology, Epidemiology, Assessment, and Treatment
by Peggy J. Ott, Ralph E. Tarter, Robert T. Ammerman
Read more about this title… |
Subscribe to Brief-TSF.com by Email
Posted in 12-Step Groups, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Al-anon, Alcoholism, Contrast to other models, Spirituality | No Comments »
Posted by Lakeside on 30th May 2008
ACOA Mutual help groups, perceived status benefits, and well-being: A test with adult children of alcoholics with personal substance abuse problems.
A field experiment was conducted to examine the potential effects of mutual help group participation on perceived status benefits, depression, and substance use among 82 adult children of alcoholics (ACOA’s; aged 22-60 yrs) with personal substance abuse problems.
Participants were randomly assigned to attend either ACOA-specific mutual help group meetings or substance abuse education classes during the initial month that they were enrolled in a residential treatment program for low-income substance abusers.
Analyses were based on assessments made at baseline, a 1-month posttest, and a 6-month follow-up.
Results indicate that participation in the mutual help group promoted perceived status benefits, which in turn led to reductions in depression and substance use.
These findings have clear implications for consumers of ACOA groups and can inform research on the social psychological underpinnings of different types of mutual help groups.
Kingree, J. B; Thompson, Martie. Mutual help groups, perceived status benefits, and well-being: A test with adult children of alcoholics with personal substance abuse problems. American Journal of Community Psychology. Vol 28(3), Jun 2000, 325-342.
Subscribe to Brief-TSF.com by Email
Posted in Adult Children of Alcoholics, Alcoholism, Co-dependency, Mutual-help, Women | No Comments »
Posted by Lakeside on 18th May 2008
Adolescent Children of Alcoholics: Vulnerable or Resilient?
BACKGROUND: Children of alcoholics (COAs) have been described as both vulnerable and resilient. Although identified as at-risk for mental and physical health problems, chemical dependency, and child abuse and neglect, many go on to lead successful lives.
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between COA status and various adolescent risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse and sexual precocity, was assessed by addressing the following research question: Could parental alcoholism be a risk factor for teens engaging in problem behaviors?
STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of a Wyoming high-risk youth data set was conducted (N _ 1632). Werner’s (1992) core resiliency factors provided the conceptual frame for the study.
RESULTS: Adolescent COAs scored significantly (p < .000) lower on all psychosocial factors of family/personal strengths and school bonding and significantly higher on all factors of at-risk temperament, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors than non-COAs.
CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent COAs are at risk for depression, suicide, eating disorders, chemical dependency, and teen pregnancy. It has been proposed that mental health professionals teach core resiliency factors to promote healthy behaviors for this vulnerable population.
Children of addicted parents are the highest risk group of children to become alcohol and drug abusers because of both genetic and family environment factors.
Twenty-two percent (n _ 352) of the combined sample identified themselves as a child of an alcoholic. This is consistent with current estimates of children of parental period alcoholics, which is calculated to be 22% (Eigen & Rowden, 2000). Rodney and Mupier (1997), in a recent study among 595 African American boys age 13 to 17 years, identified that 23% of the participating teens were COAs. The National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA, n.d.) estimates that there are 11 million COAs under 18 years of age.
COA’s scored lower on psychosocial factors;
- Family cohesion
- Self-esteem
- Education and school bonding
- Family adaptability
COA’s scored higher on risk factors;
- Negative temperament
- Negative self directed feelings, thoughts and behaviours
- Drug and alcohol use
- Sexual behaviours
COA’s scored higher on negative self directed feelings, thoughts and behaviours
- Depression and hopelessness
- Takes physical risks
- Feels excited doing risky things
- Thought of suicide in last year
- Tried suicide in last year
Research; Adolescent Children of Alcoholics: Vulnerable or Resilient? MaryLou Mylant, Bette Ide, Elizabeth Cuevas, and Maurita Meehan. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2002; 8; 57.
 |
Acoa’s Guide to Raising Healthy Children: A Parenting Handbook for the Adult Children of Alcoholics
by William Brines, James Mastrich
Read more about this title… |
Subscribe to Brief-TSF.com by Email
Posted in Adult Children of Alcoholics, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Youth | 1 Comment »
12-Step Recovery Theory And Application