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Chapter 15 - Addiction Recovery Mutual-Aid Organisations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2021

By
John F. Kelly ,
Alexandra Abry  and
Brandon G. Bergman
Edited by
Ed Day
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Summary

The complexity of addiction has led to the emergence of free community-based peer-led resources for their management, which have grown substantially in many countries to help initiate and sustain recovery-related changes. This chapter highlights the similarities and differences between these mutual help organisations (MHOs; also referred to as mutual-aid or self-help groups), such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step-based entities, as well as newer entities, such as SMART Recovery, LifeRing, Women for Sobriety and Celebrate Recovery. The chapter begins by outlining the different major MHOs and reviewing the scientific research conducted on them pertaining to recovery benefits; the mechanisms of behaviour change through which they are purported, and have been shown, to convey benefits; and the potential for healthcare cost reductions and cost effectiveness. In the final section commonalities among these ostensibly different MHOs are described and future directions are discussed.

Keywords

recoverymutual aidmutual help organisation12-step fellowshipSMART recoveryLifeRingWomen for SobrietyCelebrate Recoverymechanismevidence
Type
Chapter
Information
Seminars in Addiction Psychiatry , pp. 266 - 279
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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