Want to Stop Harmful Drinking? AA vs. SMART Recovery

There is hope for anyone aiming to thwart alcoholism: peer support is perhaps the most potent force in an individual’s recovery journey. Two self-help organizations that embody peer support are: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery). Some people prefer to go to AA, while others join SMART Recovery, and still others may feel that they can get from recovery without using either program.

What makes someone prefer one of the two? What does each enjoy about their chosen programs? Antworten zu diesen Fragen gab eine study conducted by researchers over two years – it was about what drinking-alcohol-abhorring individuals found valuable, annoying, and important at the programs AA and SMART Recovery.’:’ calculated eighty subjects, 20 from the different four groups between AA and SMART Recovery, combined attendees, and those not attending either program.
A Common Thread: The Power of Camaraderie
Camaraderie is one of the most important things learned in this study. Whether at AA or SMART Recovery, participants continually mention the importance of connecting with others who have experienced similar things. For many, this shared understanding diminished the stigma and sense of shame that often accompanies alcohol misuse. Dr. John F. Kelly, the principal investigator of the study and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, articulated this well: “…there’s something about the connection with other people with similar experiences that helps decrease self-stigma and shame about this issue.”
People told us that role modeling was another dimension of recovery. In witnessing others overcome their struggles with alcohol, the hope and the motivation to carry on with their own recovery can flow back to them. “Otherwise known as championing these successful examples,” notes Dr. Kelly, “this has a very strong impact.” It is this sense of belonging and community that makes both AA and SMART Recovery effective for so many.
Why would somebody prefer AA?
Having started in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous is decades older than SMART Recovery, which began in 1990. The old-timer status of AA means it will be easy to find a meeting, which was also pointed out as a chief benefit in the study. For example, there are 1,800 weekly AA meetings in Boston, while there are only 30 SMART Recovery meetings.
The variation is also to be seen in the meetings for different groups in AA. AA organizes meetings, where women, LGBTQ+ and for people of a particular age, among others, have meetings to interact within themselves. The variety extends, when in some locations, meetings can even take place in different languages so that AA avail itself to a good number of populations around the world.
Fundamentally, the program has been developed according to the 12 steps of AA in reaching sobriety by spiritual principles. Most of the persons so studied did not consider spirituality to be a salient point. According to Dr. Kelly, research indicates that around 50 percent of the AA members do not feel that they need a belief in a higher power or deity to get through drinking and joining the services since for most people, the sense of connection with others in the program makes the experience feel “spiritual” as opposed to a higher power.
Why Do People Choose SMART Recovery?
On the contrary, SMART Recovery strives at using science and evidence-based practices which appeal to many people. The study confirms that a good number of people are drawn to SMART Recovery because motivational psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are combined in support groups. It helps someone to know and deal with the feelings and surroundings that may trigger them to drink.
While SMART Recovery spends more time on scientific approaches, a lot of the popularity comes from the social aspect of the program. In this study, participants mentioned that their decision to stay with SMART Recovery had plenty to do with the social support available in the groups.
When compared to an AA crowd, those who chose to work with SMART Recovery tended to have fewer severe problems regarding alcohol use, had higher levels of education, more secure jobs, and greater economic resources. Secondly, SMART Recovery participants were less likely than AA participants to have had any previous treatment or contact with the criminal justice system. This is evidence that SMART Recovery may fit well for more stable individuals looking for a scientific, structured way to manage their drinking.
Main Differences Between AA and SMART Recovery
Though both approaches have peer support, there are many significant distinctions to be made:
Facilitated versus Member-led Groups: AA meetings are usually led by fellow members in recovery, while SMART Recovery meetings are led by facilitators who may or may not be in recovery. The absence of “lived experience” of facilitators was not construed as disadvantageous by participants in the study, though some did mention that they felt less of a rapport with some facilitators. One advantage of this arrangement is that professional facilitators work to keep the discussion focused and reduce long, drawn-out sharing sessions, known colloquially as “drunkalogues,” often experienced in AA.
AA heavily emphasizes sponsoring compared to any other form of facilitating support. These sponsors are usually older members with a minimum of a year’s experience of recovery and extend mentoring to new participants and offer support between meetings. On the other hand, SMART Recovery does not require people to tutor any others. Participants are instead encouraged to exchange contacts and stay in touch with each other for additional support as needed.
Which Program is Right for You?
Dr. Kelly said that as far as whether one should join a support group for quitting drinking, it is important to leave all options open and find one that feels most comfortable. “I present the different options and let people decide which program seems the best personal fit for them,” he says.
Those considering AA are pointed in the direction of research that shows three important things that add most to the chances of success.
Having a Sponsor: The most important factor for long-term recovery.
Consistent Attendance: Attending at least three meetings per week, especially in the first year.
Speaking at Meetings: Active participation, even if it is just saying a few words, helps in solidifying recovery and creating connections with other participants.
Thus, the most appropriate option for you will depend on your personal preferences and views about what type of support you want. Both AA and SMART Recovery have gone on to help thousands and thousands of people with their sobriety goals, and whichever you select, what’s of utmost importance is that initial step toward recovery.