Lately, the internet has exploded with criticism of A.A. So does the program actually work? While it's true that A.A. attendance doesn't guarantee long-term sobriety, studies show that A.A. is most successful for individuals who are involved in these 6 activities.

1. 6 STEPS TO SUCCESS IN
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

2. 1. Invest Your Heart Into It

AA Isn’t magic
Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group, but it will not do what it’s supposed
to do unless you let it. Recovery does NOT happen passively.
You must not only be committed in attendance, but proactive during the
meetings. As with any other program, a willing attitude, a humble spirit and a
deep sense of ownership are the secret ingredients to lasting recovery.
A.A. can be a nurturing and enriching experience that truly makes a
difference in your life, or it can be a worthless activity. In the end, your
attitude determines the success of your experience.
”You must be as enthusiastic about A.A.
as you were about your drinking"

3. 2. Keep Coming Back

More meetings = longer abstinence
Studies have proved that higher levels of A.A. attendance correspond with
higher rates of abstinence. In other words, more meetings equals longer
abstinence.
In fact, a study from the Journal of Clinical Psychology (2006) reports that
nearly 70% of previously untreated alcoholics who attended over 27 weeks of
A.A. meetings were abstinent from alcohol after 16 years.
As unbelievable as that sounds, numerous studies emphasize the benefits
of long-term participation in community-based self-help programs like
A.A.
"AA isn’t for people who need it,
its for people who WANT it."

4. 3. Frequently Make a Meeting

Attend at least one meeting a week
The more frequent the A.A. meetings the better, but a report from the American
Journal of Alcohol Abuse (1999) showed that it takes at least one meeting a
week to see positive results.
This study showed that over 70% of those attending one12-Step meeting a
week were still sober after 2 years, but those who attended less than one
meeting a week had similar results as those who had never attended any
meetings
“AA is bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions"

5. 4. Start Early

Start participating A.S.A.P.
When you begin attending A.A. meetings is significant.
In studies published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and the Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology, individuals who started participated in A.A.
in the first two to three years after seeking help had better outcomes than
those who began attending A.A. later in their search for serenity.
Don’t waste time trying to figure it out on your own, find a group and
attend early and often!
"The person with the most sobriety at a meeting
is the one who got to the meeting first"

6. 5. Get a Sponsor

Call your sponsor before, not after you
pick up
Sponsors are a vital part of how A.A. works, and numerous studies prove that
sponsorship significantly increases abstinence.
An article from the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors reported that A.A.
attenders with sponsors were three times more likely to be sober three
months later than those without a sponsor.
"An alcoholic without a sponsor is like
Dracula in charge of a blood bank."

7. 6. Attend Residential Treatment

Rehab will help you build the foundation
for long-term sobriety
Various studies have found that patients who attend both 12-Step
groups and residential treatment have better outcomes than patients
involved only in 12-Step groups.
"If you’re not moving away from a drink you’re moving
toward it."

8. CALL TODAY
888. 717.9724