This equals about 1 in 13, or 7.8% of all adolescents and adults in the United States. The cycle of addiction involves a chemical need, a learned what does aa stand for alcohol habit of chronic alcohol use, and a denial of the addiction. Members of AA are also encouraged but not required to engage with a sponsor.
FAQ: Alternatives to AA and 12-step programs
AA If you like the accountability and community of regular meetings, SMART Recovery may be a good option for you. If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcoholism and would like to learn more about treatment, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. Alcohol.org is a subsidiary of AAC, a nationwide provider of addiction treatment facilities. In turn, these changes may help buffer against alcohol and other drug cravings, thus reducing relapse risk.
Oar Health Member Stories: I Needed to Curb My Drinking But Didn’t Know How
This method has been gaining attention as an effective strategy for people not ready or willing to quit completely. The SMART Recovery program uses a unique blend of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and evidence-based approaches to treat substance abuse. 12-steps programs follow a regimented set of guidelines that work for some people. For others, they can be alienating and contribute to their lack of success in recovery. There is no one-size-fits-all model, and AA alternatives provide another avenue for long-term sobriety that some people find more effective. LifeRing secular recovery allows each member to design their own recovery pathway, with peer and structural support along the way.
Find an Alcohol Recovery Program Near You
SOS was founded by James Christopher, a former AA attendee that became frustrated with the emphasis on God and religion. He expressed that frustration by writing “Sobriety Without Superstition,” published in Free Inquiry, a secular humanist journal. WFS uses 13 acceptance statements to support its “New Life” Program that asks members to focus their energies on positivity over negativity. Efforts are made to accept thoughts and actions as self-destructive, learn how to cope with the emotions and behaviors that are created through alcohol addiction, and then overcome them. Women are encouraged to go over the 13 acceptance statements each morning and then work through them throughout the day, reflecting on them each night. The program is based around the Twelve Steps to help its members achieve complete abstinence from alcohol use.
Decoding The Principles Behind Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms
However, through a little research and trial and error, you may find a peer support group that makes you feel comfortable and empowered. You may also discover practical coping skills to help tame your urges to drink and manage stress. All of these factors can contribute to your recovery from alcoholism or a drinking problem.
- Check with your health insurance provider, ask friends for referrals, or browse therapy directories like Psychology Today and GoodTherapy.
- The ASAM “continuum of care” model refers to a flexible treatment system in which people with the condition can enter the level most suitable to their needs, and if necessary, step up or move down in treatment intensity.
- In general, the IOT programs may provide more substance use counseling than the outpatient treatment programs, according to research comparing outpatient programs to IOT.
- Harm reduction for one person might mean drinking two drinks a day instead of ten, while it might mean complete sobriety for someone else.
- This is an adult-only level of 24-hour care in a residential setting designed to stabilize imminent danger among people with cognitive disability or other impairments.
- It’s a misbelief that AA is the only way to get over an alcohol dependency.
Staying Social When You Quit Drinking
