Do 12-step programs work?
Again, sort of . . .
A 10-year-long research study published in 2013 claimed to demonstrate a significant benefit for those attending AA meetings, while critics of the organization often point to a 2006 review article that found no quantifiable benefit from AA or other 12-step programs. In fact, it is clear that academic researchers have been complaining for decades about the lack of data on 12-step programs. The Alcoholics Anonymous organization has apparently compiled internal data on membership attrition rates, but it hasn’t done enough to satisfy the demands of an evidence-based medical culture.
Could New Addiction Medications Replace Mutual Self Help Groups?