Self-help Success

Did you know that 5 million people attend self-help groups each year due to illicit drug and alcohol use? That’s the stat according to a recent study issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Their recently released findings of a new national survey on self-help groups show that 45.1 percent of participants in self-help groups ages 12 and older did not use alcohol or illicit drugs in the previous month. The remaining 54.9% continued their substance abuse.

Those numbers might cause some to question the effectiveness of group therapy since more than half of those attending have used recently, but researchers say it actually lends credibility to the power of participating in self-help groups.

“This report adds to the substantial body of research indicating that participation in self-help groups can help support people battling substance abuse problems,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “Self-help groups often are used in conjunction with specialty treatment and to support individuals seeking help or sustaining their recovery.”

SAMHSA’s full report can be found at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/selfHelp/selfHelp.htm