Helping Others and Long-term Sobriety: Who Should I Help to Stay Sober?

Overview

Journal Alcohol Treat Q

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2009 Aug 20

PMID 19690625

Citations 14

Authors

Maria E Pagano

Brie B Zeltner

Jihad Jaber

Stephen G Post

William H Zywiak

Robert L Stout

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Examination of the change strategies associated with successful long-term sobriety remains an understudied area in addiction research. The following study recruited individuals with long-term sobriety (range 16-25 years continuous abstinence). Subjects (n = 11 were surveyed on demographic information, problem history, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) affiliation, and helping behaviors within several life domains over the course of sobriety. General helping behaviors increased from lower levels in the month prior to getting sober, to moderate levels at 1 year of sobriety, but did not continue to increase with additional years of sobriety. Levels of general help to others at home, work, and 12-step programs were similar at varying lengths of sobriety. Whereas overall levels of general help given to others were similar across settings, helping other alcoholics, as opposed to helping others at home or work, was rated as contributing the most to staying sober. Across time, alcoholics increased participation in helping behaviors specific to 12-step programs. The utility of helping others as a behavioral strategy to maintain successful addictive behavioral change is discussed.

Citing Articles

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Giving and receiving social support in online substance use disorder forums: How self-efficacy moderates effects on relapse.

Liu Y, Kornfield R, Shaw B, Shah D, McTavish F, Gustafson D Patient Educ Couns. 2020; 103(6):1125-1133.

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Virtual Reality Job Interview Training and 6-Month Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders Seeking Employment.

Smith M, Bell M, Wright M, Humm L, Olsen D, Fleming M J Vocat Rehabil. 2019; 44(3):323-332.

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Characterizing Participation and Perceived Engagement Benefits in an Integrated Digital Behavioral Health Recovery Community for Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Curtis B, Bergman B, Brown A, McDaniel J, Harper K, Eisenhart E JMIR Ment Health. 2019; 6(8):e13352.

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Alone on the Inside: The Impact of Social Isolation and Helping Others on AOD Use and Criminal Activity.

Johnson B, Pagano M, Lee M, Post S Youth Soc. 2018; 50(4):529-550.

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