5 Million People Participate In
Self-Help Groups

New data indicate that 2.3 million people who participate in self-help groups for alcohol or illicit drug use currently abstain from use of these substances.

Based on a nationwide survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the report offers other data highlighting the use and benefits of these groups.

Among The Report's Notable Findings:

• 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.

Self-help programs are often used in conjunction with specialty treatment and to support individuals seeking help or sustaining their recovery."

Findings for Participation in Self-Help Groups for Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use: 2006 and 2007, are drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationwide survey of 67,500 respondents each year.

This report focused on questions asked of persons aged 12 and older about their participation in a self-help group for substance use (i.e., alcohol use, illicit drug use, or both).

12-Step Programs

The most prominent self-help groups for drug and alcohol addiction are the 12 Step programs, based on the "principles for living" originated by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

About The Meetings

Meetings in 12 Step programs are always FREE and are NOT facilitated by professional health or social workers. Fellow addicts and alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope chair the meetings.

The 12 Step approach has a spiritual component in that the steps include admitting powerlessness over the addiction and surrendering to a "higher power," which they can interpret according to their individual beliefs.

Research, including studies conducted over many years, indicates that these programs are effective, especially as a continuing follow-up to medical treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

Rehab Guide

If you have no private health insurance and if you don’t have $10,000 or more to pay for your treatment, then this Rehab Guide is for YOU!

More Than 1,500 FREE Rehabs Across The Country To Choose From! Includes Christian Drug And Alcohol Rehabs!

Final thought..."It isn't the thing you do, it's the thing you leave undone,
which gives you a bit of a heartache, at the setting of the sun."

See Ya Next Month

Bob FOUNDER/Recovery Network