Abstract
Support and therapy groups can help individuals to cope with various problems, including addiction. Different support and therapy groups exist, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and family therapy. AA is a 12-step program for those suffering from alcoholism. It is not a treatment but a group of people sharing the same experiences and feelings. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is another 12-step program for those suffering from drug addiction. Al-Anon is an 18-step support group for those affected by someone with an addiction problem. These groups are crucial as they can comfort members under challenging situations and aid their expressive and healthy growth. Participants in a support group can discuss their experiences with others who may relate. These peers often provide valuable, hands-on advice they have learned the hard way.
Introduction
Support groups and treatment groups can help people with mental health problems and other effective ways to get the support needed to manage their illness. Support groups are people meeting regularly to share experiences, tips, and advice, run mainly by professionals or volunteers (Dale, 2019). They might meet in person or primarily online, run by professionals, such as counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. Treatment groups are people meeting regularly to discuss their experiences living with mental health problems controlled by health professionals. The paper compares and contrasts addiction support groups with therapy groups. It starts by providing a brief history of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon, then discusses the structure and function of each support group. Subsequently, the paper provides a brief history of therapy groups and their meeting structure and function, then gives a final comparison of the two.
Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio; principles are based on the Twelve Steps, a program of recovery that helps alcoholics and their families stay sober. It is the world’s largest 12-step fellowship and most effective alcohol program (Erickson, 2020). The first thing one needs to do is make a decision, which means one is ready for the next step, which is attending one of their meetings.
Meeting Structure and Function
The basic structure of an AA meeting is identical to that of a 12-step meeting. The program consists of three parts: the opening, the sharing, and the closing. The opening portion lasts no more than five minutes. Some meetings begin with a prayer as a spiritual principle or a moment of silence (Volenik, 2021). The sharing part begins with patients sharing their experiences with others in the group; they listen attentively and offer encouragement or advice as needed. This is followed by an opportunity for members to share their personal stories directly with each other. The closing portion includes a prayer, a few minutes of silent meditation, and any announcements made during the meeting. General meetings last 90 minutes, whereas noon meetings are 60 minutes. The function of the meeting is to share experiences, provide a supportive environment, and understand problems related to alcohol addiction.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Narcotics Anonymous has been in existence for more than seven decades. It was founded in 1953 by Jimmy Kinnon and sprang from the AA program (Brown, 2018). It mirrors the AA 12-step approach, which few exceptions. For instance, in the first step, the word alcohol is substituted with addiction to remove drug-specific language and emphasize the illness concept of addiction. NA is not associated with any organization or religion, and members are encouraged to cultivate personal understanding to overcome addiction.
Meeting Structure and Function
The structure is designed to ensure that everyone feels welcome, safe, and supported, making meetings open, non-judgmental groups where anyone can express themselves. People come together when they want to share their experiences and make new friends. In a NA meeting, members take turns giving information about how they have changed since they were first introduced to Narcotics anonymous so that other members can learn from them (Foulkes, 2018). The format of a typical meeting includes i )Hi/Hello/Good Morning or Good Afternoon ii) member introductions iii) open time – everyone shares whatever is on their mind at this time without being questioned or criticized by others iv) spoken meetings – members take turns sharing information on changes observed since they were first introduced to NA. This program aims to help addicts stay clean and sober by using the principles of addiction and recovery outlined in the Big Book, the NA Twelve Steps and Traditions, and additional literature on alcoholics anonymous. The purpose of each NA meeting held weekly or biweekly is to develop a program of recovery.
Al-Anon Brief History
Al-Anon was derived from the first syllables of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was founded in 1951 by Lois Wilson and Bill Wilson (Brown, 2018). Al-Anon is the only organization dedicated to recovering families and friends of addicted persons. It provides a recovery program for friends and families of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholics are aware of their drinking problems. The members share their experiences and offer encouragement to each other.
Meeting Structure and Function
The basic meeting structure is that members share their experiences and feelings and also listen to other members’ experiences. The members discuss the effects of alcoholism, other addiction-related problems, and ways to cope with these problems in the long term (Helm, 2019). The goal is to help each other develop new coping skills and ways of helping loved ones deal with life problems without using alcohol or drugs. The format for Al-Anon meetings is straightforward; i) members introduce themselves and share their experiences with others, ii) the meeting is structured so that everyone gets a chance to speak without being interrupted by others, iii) Nobody is forced to say anything they do not want to say, iv) members use a plan called The Big Book to keep the discussion on track, v) Members are encouraged to share their feelings about what is happening in their lives.
Al-Anon is primarily concerned with helping family members of alcoholics understand and cope with the alcoholism process. It provides education, support, and problem-solving for families affected by alcoholism. Al-Anon does not offer treatment for alcoholism (Pound et al., 2018). Al-Anon helps its members understand that they are not alone, that many others are living through similar experiences, and what it feels like to be trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of denial, frustration, anger and despair caused by living with someone with an addiction problem.
Addiction Therapy Groups Brief History
The first addiction therapy group was started more than a century ago. It was started by Henry Smith, a Methodist minister who wanted to provide a place where people struggling with or recovering from addiction could go (Brown, 2018). He established six different churches throughout the United States, each serving as a support group for other individuals trying to overcome their addictions or recover from them. It was not until 1963 that addiction therapists began to form formal groups. One of these therapists was Dr. Betty Ford, who founded the Betty Ford Center in 1973. Critical milestones in developing addiction therapy groups occurred when they started being used as detox centers instead of just in rehabilitation programs like AA or NA. Members discussed their issues alone and proposed ideas on how they should handle their problems without doing anything about them.
These therapy groups aim to help addicts break their addiction by following rules that they feel will help them remain sober. This process is called “working the steps.” The rules are designed to help addicts become more aware of their addictive behaviors and feelings about those behaviors, including shame or guilt for being addicted, anger at themselves for being an addict, and resentment toward others for becoming addicted because of them (Brown, 2018). Many addiction therapy groups are available for various reasons, such as general support, family support, spiritual development, education, counseling, treatment planning, and more. These groups may be located in local churches, community centers, hospitals, residential programs, or online.
Addiction Therapy Groups Meeting Structure and Function
Several structures can be utilized; one is a 12-step program with 12 steps as their framework for helping people overcome addiction. There are many different variations of this model. Still, they all share the same basic premise: participants take on a new identity and make amends with others affected by their drug use or alcoholism. The other is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy focuses on changing negative thought patterns, behaviors and decision-making processes. CBT can help people break out of patterns that have led them down a wrong path in their life and begin using substances in healthier ways.
Additionally, there is family therapy, which helps families deal with issues related to substance abuse and other problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Family members often express frustration that they cannot seem to get through to each other when it comes time for family discussions about these issues, so they may benefit from learning how to communicate effectively.
Regarding role, there is Group Facilitator’s Roles and group member roles. The former ensures that everyone has a voice in the discussion, facilitates it, organizes the schedule, and keeps it moving forward. They are responsible for keeping the group active by asking questions and engaging with members. The group facilitator should be familiar with addiction recovery and have experience facilitating groups. The latter ensures each group member should have a specific role in creating energy and momentum for the discussion. Each member should be allowed to speak as much or as little as they wish based on their comfort level within the group.
The process of group therapy comprises three stages: pre-group, introduction, and post-group; the pre-group stage is when the facilitator guides participants through an assessment process to establish their needs, goals, and what they hope to gain from this group session. During this stage, facilitators also work on building rapport with participants (Magill et al., 2019). This process includes creating a safe atmosphere for participants to share their emotions and thoughts about their problems. The introduction stage involves sharing information about the group format and running through some basic exercises that will be used during subsequent sessions.
Comparison of Support Groups and Addiction Therapy Groups
Firstly, they provide supportive environments since members are in a support group surrounded by other people going through similar things. It is easier to talk about their feelings and problems when they know that someone else understands what they are going through (Benson, 2018). Plus, having other people with similar issues around will make it feel like less of an ordeal. Secondly, both built a positive attitude; being around others that are also trying to recover from addiction can help them stay motivated and keep their spirits up when life gets tough. Even if they do not feel like talking about their problems, being around supportive others can help remind them that there is always someone caring and will be there for them whenever needed. Lastly, create a sense of community involvement; after attending meetings for a while, many people feel more involved in their communities than ever before — whether volunteering at local events or signing up for classes at their local college or university. In many ways, getting involved with the community can help improve their overall well-being and give back to those who helped shape their life into what it is today.
Differences between Support Groups and Addiction Therapy Groups
Even though both groups provide support, a support group aims to assist members in coping, whereas the goal of group therapy is to assist members in change. Unlike support groups, addiction therapy groups are used as detox centers instead of just in rehabilitation programs like in the case of AN and AA. Another difference is that compared to Addiction therapy groups, support groups (Al-Anon) are primarily formed to assist caregivers. Al-Anon organization is dedicated to the recovery of families and friends of addicted persons. Generally, a support group comprises individuals undergoing a similar situation of addiction. The groups meet regularly and are guided by a mental health practitioner with no specific program. On the other hand, group therapy has a more structured treatment option than a support group, which is mainly recommended as a treatment plan.
Conclusion
The first thing that must be done before attending any type of support group is to determine what type of addiction they have. This will help individuals understand how other people in the same situation feel, so they can better relate to them during meetings. After determining the type of addiction, they can find a meeting location near and sign up for classes at the local hospital or clinic. From this discussion, I have realized that groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Al-Anon are very beneficial in helping people suffering from addiction. The groups provide a haven for people to come together and share their struggles. The group members can talk about their problems openly and honestly, which helps them to cope with their problems. I could promote the use of support groups and therapy groups at my future workplace by urging members to listen to one another, provide assistance, speak about themselves, and assist other members in problem-solving.
References
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