<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1060426/open_sms"&gt;Send us a Text Message.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This week I revisit a topic I&amp;apos;ve discussed repeatedly on this show: the reported success rates of 12-Step programs like AA and NA. I talk about the reason these programs persist as the norm despite an odd lack of data to verify their success, and I walk through the reasons AA and other 12-Step programs are highly religious while almost always claiming (and appearing) not to be.  &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Read &lt;a href='https://www.cochrane.org/news/new-cochrane-review-finds-alcoholics-anonymous-and-12-step-facilitation-programs-help-people'&gt;Cochrane&amp;apos;s new(er) meta-analysis of 12-step success rates on their website&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Read more about &lt;a href='https://www.jstor.org/stable/45091639'&gt;aging out of addiction in Zimburg&amp;apos;s work.&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.amazon.com/Sober-Truth-Debunking-Programs-Industry/dp/0807033154'&gt;14% - 31% of people who walk into a 12-Step meeting keep coming for at least 1 year.&lt;br/&gt;21% - 22% of people who stay in a 12-Step program for more than a year remain sober.&lt;br/&gt;5% - 8% of people who walk into a 12-Step meeting will remain sober for at least 1 year.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Some studies show that &lt;a href='https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12810145/'&gt;those who try a 12-Step program actually have worse success rates &lt;/a&gt;than non-treatment groups. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1060426/support"&gt;Support the Show.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Dr. Junkie Show

Benjamin Boyce

#143: Cults, Drugs & The 12-Step Success Story

APR 10, 202430 MIN
The Dr. Junkie Show

#143: Cults, Drugs & The 12-Step Success Story

APR 10, 202430 MIN

Description

Send us a Text Message.

This week I revisit a topic I've discussed repeatedly on this show: the reported success rates of 12-Step programs like AA and NA. I talk about the reason these programs persist as the norm despite an odd lack of data to verify their success, and I walk through the reasons AA and other 12-Step programs are highly religious while almost always claiming (and appearing) not to be. 

Read Cochrane's new(er) meta-analysis of 12-step success rates on their website.

Read more about aging out of addiction in Zimburg's work.

14% - 31% of people who walk into a 12-Step meeting keep coming for at least 1 year.
21% - 22% of people who stay in a 12-Step program for more than a year remain sober.
5% - 8% of people who walk into a 12-Step meeting will remain sober for at least 1 year.

Some studies show that those who try a 12-Step program actually have worse success rates than non-treatment groups. 

Support the Show.