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Al-Anon newcomers: benefits of continuing attendance for six months
- Source :
- The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. 42(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step mutual-help program for people concerned about another person's drinking, is the most widely used form of help by Concerned Others.This longitudinal study examined newcomers' outcomes of attending Al-Anon. Aims were to better understand early gains from Al-Anon to inform efforts in the professional community to facilitate concerned others' attendance of and engagement in Al-Anon.We compared two groups of Al-Anon newcomers who completed surveys at baseline and 6 months later: those who discontinued attendance by the 6-month follow-up (N = 133), and those who were still attending Al-Anon meetings (N = 97); baseline characteristics were controlled in these comparisons.Newcomers who sustained participation in Al-Anon over the first 6 months of attendance were more likely than those who discontinued participation during the same period to report gains in a variety of domains, such as learning how to handle problems due to the drinker, and increased well-being and functioning, including reduced verbal or physical abuse victimization. Newcomers to Al-Anon reported more personal gains than drinker-related gains. The most frequent drinker gain was a better relationship with the Concerned Other; attendees were more likely to report this, as well as daily, in-person contact with the drinker.Al-Anon participation may facilitate ongoing interaction between Concerned Others and drinkers, and help Concerned Others function and feel better. Thus, short-term participation may be beneficial. Health-care professionals should consider providing referrals to Al-Anon and monitoring early attendance.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Longitudinal study
media_common.quotation_subject
030508 substance abuse
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Poison control
Suicide prevention
Occupational safety and health
Article
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Nursing
Injury prevention
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Longitudinal Studies
media_common
Alcoholics Anonymous
business.industry
Addiction
Attendance
Human factors and ergonomics
Middle Aged
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Alcoholism
Family medicine
Quality of Life
Patient Compliance
Female
0305 other medical science
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10979891
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....44fe347156133c0e3994e011fcfaaa20