Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Alcoholics may benefit from helping one another quit drinking
By Staff Writer
According to a recent review of addiction recovery, it was found that alcoholics who help others suffering from the condition could benefit each other's relapse prevention efforts.
The review, conducted by researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, was published in a recent issue of Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. Data was obtained from Project MATCH, a clinical trial in alcohol research.
Using this data, the researchers found that 40 percent of alcoholics who helped others afflicted by the same addiction during recovery managed to avoid drinking in the 12 months that followed. Of the individuals who did not help other, only 22 percent remained sober.
A previous study using data from Project MATCH showed that 94 percent of alcoholics who helped other alcoholics experienced lower levels of depression.
A root cause of addiction is egocentrism or selfishness, according to the review. Therapy programs that involve helping others with a similar addiction forms a kinship of common suffering. The researchers believe that this technique can be applicable to all individuals who willingly pursue substance abuse help.
Based on these various results, researchers feel that helping others, regardless of a shared condition, can lead to longer and healthier lives.
