THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND THE CONTROVERSIAL 12 STEPS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT

AA’s 12 Steps are widely criticised, but a new study proves that participation in the "Steps" and its systems increase chances of long-term sobriety by over 200%!

  

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been helping millions of people get and stay sober since the 12 Steps, and the ‘Big Book' were created in 1935. Despite the positive results, however, the organisation and the 12 Steps addiction treatment method have been widely criticised, especially in recent years. Some say that AA should not talk about God. Others believe that it has no scientific standing. And others believe that abstinence should not have to be ‘the only way.'

Back in 1935, the founders of AA classified alcoholism as a disease – albeit without any scientific evidence. In 1956 the American Medical Association (AMA) also classified alcoholism as a disease – this time with scientific evidence. And earlier this year, in 2014, researchers at DePaul University's Center for Community Research in Chicago, U.S.A., found some compelling evidence that the AA programme, used in conjunction with clinical inpatient rehab, does indeed deliver desirable results for addicts.

A group of 150 participants who had just completed inpatient rehab programmes were categorised into two sections. Those who were “categorically involved” in AA, meaning they met the four main criteria for the programme: doing service work, having a sponsor, reading the literature and calling other members for help – and those who were not “categorically involved”.

The study found that after two years, those who were “categorically involved” were 2.8 times more likely to be abstinent from drugs and alcohol than those who were not involved. At The Cabin Chiang Mai, we use the 12 Steps as part of our evidence-based clinical treatment programme along with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to an extremely high degree of success.

CBT is a modern, evidence-based psychology, which focuses mainly on the way that negative thinking affects the way we feel and behave. Conditions such as addiction create mental and emotional disturbance, and can be treated by learning strategies and techniques to think rationally and positively. And by juxtaposing 12 Step concepts with CBT concepts, we can offer an explanation of how these two methods can work together to keep addicts healthy and free from their addiction-based impulses and behaviours.

Below, you will find a chart used in our treatment programme which gives an explanation of how the 12 Steps are used with CBT to combat the chronic disease of addiction.

As you can see, the 12 Steps offer a psychological pathway to free an addict from the addiction compulsions that keep them unhealthy, and keep them addicted. In this way, it is easy to see a more scientific explanation of why these steps do work.

At Shafa Home, we are secular in the way of religion, but it is important to understand that addiction goes beyond your own personal power. Someone with diabetes cannot be finitely cured of the disease, but through a strict diet, and medical regiment they are able to control the disease in a way that it has the least impact on their life. Such as with addiction, an addict needs to understand that addiction is a chronic disease, and that by following a certain lifestyle and regiment of meetings, outreach and constant self-work, they can keep their disease at bay.

We also incorporate the three circles method and mindfulness therapy to round out our cutting edge treatment model, which boasts a very high success rate. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, it is important to contact a professional for help.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)

ARE ADDICTION STEREOTYPES INFLUENCING YOUR DENIAL?

The stereotypical image of an addict in many people’s minds is someone who uses drugs or alcohol everyday, looks unhealthy and unkempt and lives in dodgy housing, or possibly on the streets. In fact, less than 10% of all addicts live up to that stereotype. However, due to these typecasts, many addicts stay in hiding - dealing with the disease all alone.

Who is an addict? What does an addict look like? The media fuels many stereotypes that lead us to believe we can answer these questions. Addicts are unemployed, live on the streets and uneducated. They are criminals, prostitutes, and otherwise deviant from mainstream society. They drink every day and take drugs in alleyways or abandoned buildings. They look unkempt, underweight and sickly.

The reality is the majority of addicts don't fit within these common negative stereotypes. In fact, less than 10% of all alcoholics are the homeless, chronically using and mentally ill men portrayed in movies and media. Most people struggling with addiction have jobs, families, and may not even use every day. They are able to keep up appearances and support their habit without turning to stealing or prostitution. They are women and men of all ages, classes, and ethnicities.

Parents are encouraged to look out for signs of substance abuse such as slipping grades, strange behavior and symptoms of depression. While it is true these red-flags exist and shouldn't be ignored, a problem can go unnoticed if the young user is able to keep up with his or her responsibilities.

The gap between stereotypes and reality contributes to the pervasive denial characteristic of addicts and their families. As long as someone is non-violent, employed, keeps up a home and otherwise functions as a productive member of society we find it easier to overlook the possibility of addiction. Denial is a key ingredient in keeping addiction alive and it manifests in many ways over time.

With stereotypes in mind people are able to minimize their behavior in comparison to what they think an addict really looks like and rationalise decisions based on their external successes.  Friends and family are also sucked into denying their loved one has a problem based on their misconceptions about addiction. As the disease progresses, denial by the addict becomes stronger and loved ones begin to enable addictive behavior.

The idea that an addict must hit “rock bottom” before they can change is another stereotype prevalent in society that contributes to denial. Often hitting bottom is portrayed as a dramatic event in which an addict has no choice but to face reality as he or she has lost everything. With this storyline in mind addicts and families prolong denial for years and even decades when things don't ever completely fall apart. The truth is the internal struggle of addiction is present whether one's life is seemingly all together, or completely out of control. “Hitting rock bottom” looks different for everyone and the outward drama that we might expect is often missing.

So what does an addict look like? An addict looks like a parent, child, co-worker, boss or friend. Asking questions early and gaining knowledge about what addiction really looks like can lead you or your loved ones to seek the help they need. As with any disease the earlier it is detected the better chance one has to overcome it.

(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original authors.)