SOCW 6103 Week 10 – Assignment: Self-Help Recovery Groups

Assignment: Self-Help Recovery Groups

Twelve-step groups are the foundation and most widely recognized of nearly all addiction recovery programs. Twelve-step groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Gamblers Anonymous. Although the primary focus of twelve-step groups is addiction recovery, group support allows individuals to share their strengths, experiences, and hopes with each other. The twelve-step recovery process is a set of principles—known as steps—that are used toward addiction recovery. For example, the steps include abstinence from addictive substances or behavior, positive social relationships, positive physical and emotional health, and improved spiritual strength (Mejta, Naylor, & Maslar, 1994). Twelve-step groups are spiritually based—meaning while they acknowledge a “Higher Power” —they are not associated with any organized religion or dogma (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2012). In addition, during and after treatment, the twelve-step community is available for ongoing support

In addition to Twelve-Step groups other self-help recovery groups have developed in more recent years. For example Rational Recovery, Smart Recovery, Moderation Management, Women for Sobriety Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S.), and LifeRing Secular Recovery. These organizations support people identifying themselves as having an issue with drugs and alcohol but do not adhere to the same theoretical principles of a twelve step group.

To Prepare:

Attend three self-help group meetings, one from each of the following areas. You may attend one of these groups online.

1. An Alcoholics Anonymous OPEN twelve-step meeting of your choice in your community. 

2. A National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)self-help recovery group.  

3. An Al-Anon Alcoholics Anonymous Family Group. 

For this Assignment, review this week’s resources, including the “Twelve-Step Groups” document, and research the development of the non-twelve step group you chose to attend. Consider your assumptions prior to and after attending each meeting chosen. Explore insights from attending the meeting and consider how this experience might be helpful as an addiction professional. Support your response with references to the resources and current literature.

Submit an 800-word page paper that addresses the following:

· Identify which 3 meetings you attended, and briefly describe the development of the non-twelve step meeting you attended.

· Describe your initial assumptions before attending each meeting.

· Explain any insights you gained from attending each meeting.

· Compare and contrast your experience at the different meetings.

· Explain how this experience might inform your future work as an addiction professional.

Must contain at least 5 references and citations. The following must be referenced and cited:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

https://www.aa.org/

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

http://www.naohio.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

https://www.nami.org/Home

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SMHSA). https://www.samhsa.gov/

Week 10: Prevention

“Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions” (Obar, 2012). 

The mission statement of Walden University speaks to the ability to transform students so that students can effect positive social change (Walden University, 2012).

This week, you explore social change programs and consider the reasons why some social change programs are not successful. You also examine factors that may contribute to the success of social change programs.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze social change programs

· Analyze challenges to social change programs

· Analyze personal assumptions and insights related to twelve-step meetings

· Apply the experience of attending twelve-step meetings to future work as an addiction professional

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.

· Chapter 16, “Substance Abuse Prevention Programs Across the Lifespan” (pp. 353-382)

Goodin, M. J. (2018). We cannot treat the dead. American Journal of Public Health, 2018(10), 1286-1288.

Kelly, J. F., Stout, R. L., Magill, M., Tonigan, J. S., & Pagano, M. E. (2010). Mechanisms of behavior change in alcoholics anonymous: Does Alcoholics Anonymous lead to better alcohol use outcomes by reducing depression symptoms? Addiction, 105(4), 626–636. 

NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/

Pagano, M. E., Post, S. G., & Johnson, S. M. (2011). Alcoholics Anonymous-related helping and the helper therapy principle. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 29(1), 21–23. 

The Partnership at Drugfree.org. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.drugfree.org

Patry, E., Bratberg, J. P., Buchanan, A., Paiva, A. L., Balestrieri, S., & Matson, K. L. (2018). Rx for addiction and medication safety: An evaluation of teen education for opioid misuse prevention. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.07.006

Pitt, A. L., Humphreys, K., & Brandeau, M. L. (2018). Modeling health benefits and harms of public policy responses to the US opioid epidemic. American Journal of Public Health, 108(10), 1394-1400.

Document: Twelve-Step Groups (PDF)

Assignment: Self-Help Recovery Groups

Twelve-step groups are the foundation and most widely recognized of nearly all addiction recovery programs. Twelve-step groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Gamblers Anonymous. Although the primary focus of twelve-step groups is addiction recovery, group support allows individuals to share their strengths, experiences, and hopes with each other. The twelve-step recovery process is a set of principles—known as steps—that are used toward addiction recovery. For example, the steps include abstinence from addictive substances or behavior, positive social relationships, positive physical and emotional health, and improved spiritual strength (Mejta, Naylor, & Maslar, 1994). Twelve-step groups are spiritually based—meaning while they acknowledge a “Higher Power” —they are not associated with any organized religion or dogma (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2012). In addition, during and after treatment, the twelve-step community is available for ongoing support

In addition to Twelve-Step groups other self-help recovery groups have developed in more recent years. For example Rational Recovery, Smart Recovery, Moderation Management, Women for Sobriety Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S.), and LifeRing Secular Recovery. These organizations support people identifying themselves as having an issue with drugs and alcohol but do not adhere to the same theoretical principles of a twelve step group.

To Prepare:

Attend three self-help group meetings, one from each of the following areas. You may attend one of these groups online.

1. An Alcoholics Anonymous OPEN twelve-step meeting of your choice in your community.

2. A National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)self-help recovery group.

3. An Al-Anon Alcoholics Anonymous Family Group.

For this Assignment, review this week’s resources, including the “Twelve-Step Groups” document, and research the development of the non-twelve step group you chose to attend. Consider your assumptions prior to and after attending each meeting chosen. Explore insights from attending the meeting and consider how this experience might be helpful as an addiction professional. Support your response with references to the resources and current literature.

Submit an 800-word page paper that addresses the following:

· Identify which 3 meetings you attended, and briefly describe the development of the non-twelve step meeting you attended.

· Describe your initial assumptions before attending each meeting.

· Explain any insights you gained from attending each meeting.

· Compare and contrast your experience at the different meetings.

· Explain how this experience might inform your future work as an addiction professional.

Must contain at least 5 references and citations. The following must be referenced and cited:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

https://www.aa.org/

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
· Chapter 16, “Substance Abuse Prevention Programs Across the Lifespan” (pp. 353-382)

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

http://www.naohio.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

https://www.nami.org/Home

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SMHSA). https://www.samhsa.gov/

Additional Resources:

Goodin, M. J. (2018). We cannot treat the dead. American Journal of Public Health, 2018(10), 1286-1288.

Kelly, J. F., Stout, R. L., Magill, M., Tonigan, J. S., & Pagano, M. E. (2010). Mechanisms of behavior change in alcoholics anonymous: Does Alcoholics Anonymous lead to better alcohol use outcomes by reducing depression symptoms? Addiction, 105(4), 626–636. 
Pagano, M. E., Post, S. G., & Johnson, S. M. (2011). Alcoholics Anonymous-related helping and the helper therapy principle. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 29(1), 21–23. 

The Partnership at Drugfree.org. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.drugfree.org

Patry, E., Bratberg, J. P., Buchanan, A., Paiva, A. L., Balestrieri, S., & Matson, K. L. (2018). Rx for addiction and medication safety: An evaluation of teen education for opioid misuse prevention. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.07.006

© 2014 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 1 of 2

Twelve‐Step

 

Groups

 

 

What is Alcoholics Anonymous? 

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and 

hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from 

alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 

2012). 

What is Al‐Anon? 

“At Al‐Anon Family Group meetings, the friends and family members of problem drinkers share their 

experiences and learn how to apply the principles of the Al‐Anon program to their individual situations. 

They learn that they are not alone in the problems they face, and that they have choices that lead to 

greater peace of mind, whether the drinker continues to drink or not” (Al‐Anon Family Groups, 2012). 

What is Gamblers Anonymous? 

“Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and 

hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a 

gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling” (Gamblers 

Anonymous, 2012). 

What is Narcotics Anonymous? 

“The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts 

who wish to pursue and maintain a drug‐free lifestyle” (Narcotics Anonymous, 2012). 

What is Overeaters Anonymous? 

“Overeaters Anonymous offers a program of recovery from compulsive eating using the Twelve Steps 

and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. Worldwide meetings and other tools provide a 

fellowship of experience, strength, and hope where members respect one another’s anonymity. 

Overeaters Anonymous is not just about weight loss, weight gain or maintenance, or obesity or diets. It 

addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well‐being. It is not a religious organization and does not 

promote any particular diet” (Overeaters Anonymous, 2012). 

References: 

Alcoholics Anonymous. (2012). Information on A.A. Retrieved from 

http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=1   

Al‐Anon Family Groups. (2012). About Al‐Anon family groups meetings. Retrieved from http://www.al‐

anon.alateen.org/about‐group‐meetings 

© 2014 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 2 of 2

Gamblers Anonymous. (2012). About us. Retrieved from 

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/node/1 

Narcotics Anonymous. (2012). Information about NA. Retrieved from http://www.na.org/?ID=PR‐index 

Overeaters Anonymous. (2012). OA program of recovery. Retrieved from http://www.oa.org/