Lighthouse Treatment Center Commends New Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and Other 12-Step Programs

Anaheim, California – The Lighthouse Treatment Center, a drug and alcohol recovery facility in Anaheim, California, has welcomed the results of a new study published by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review that supports the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve-Step Facilitation programs.

Alcoholics Anonymous or better known as AA is a peer-led twelve-step program that seeks to help people with alcohol and drug abuse. Over the years, similar Twelve-Step Facilitation programs (TSF) have been developed to address alcohol and substance abuse disorders such as Narcotics Anonymous, Gambling Anonymous and Sex Anonymous.

The new Cochrane research is based on an analysis of 27 studies involving 10,565 participants. Key results state that AA or TSF programs may be superior to other treatments for increasing the percentage of abstinence in the long-term. These results contradict a similar Cochrane study conducted in 2006 which concluded that no studies unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of AA or TSF programs for reducing alcohol problems.

The new study also states that AA and TSF programs have been found to probably perform as well as other treatments in reducing the intensity of alcohol drinking and for other alcohol-related consequences.

Peter J. Davidson, President and COO of the Lighthouse, said that this new study confirms what many professionals in the recovery industry have witnessed over the years. Davidson explained that programs need to combine effective therapy with a reintroduction to society through safe group meetings.

“Twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous have faced criticisms from some of the intellectual establishments over the years, however, we in the recovery industry continue to integrate these programs in our treatment modalities because we have seen first-hand how effective they are in promoting long-term sobriety,” said Davidson.

Davidson shared that as part of their rehabilitation program, the Lighthouse introduces clients to the twelve-step model of recovery and provides access to meetings where they experience the fellowship. The Lighthouse also hosts three meetings each week with meals for members of their alumni program who want to engage with other recovering addicts and alcoholics. The interaction of one person talking to another to help overcome cravings is one of the most cost-effective means of staying sober.

“In addition to the treatment programs we typically provide to our resident clients, the Lighthouse provides recovery weekend 4th step workshops for a­­­­­­­lumni who want to complete the steps. Many people procrastinate on this piece of the program. Our goal is to provide attendees a way to progress in the twelve-steps that might not have happened in the first 30 days,” said Davidson.