A new report has
found that the addition of a twelve-step program for people in
outpatient drug treatment programs doubles their chance of staying
drug-free. According to interviews with 356 outpatients conducted
by University of California at Los Angeles researchers Drs.
Maureen P. Hillhouse and Robert Fiorentine, 48 percent of clients
who completed treatment abstained from drugs during the six-months
following discharge. But the percentage increased to 86 percent
for those who completed the program and maintained weekly
participation in 12-step meetings during and after treatment.
"Even though some aspects of a
12-step program are included in outpatient drug treatment
programs, participation in at least one outside weekly meeting
does make a big difference," said Hillhouse.
The researchers recommended regular
participation in a 12-step program as a "refresher
course" for addicts so that they can acknowledge loss of
control over drug use and accept the need for lifelong abstinence.
The report was presented at the annual
meeting of the American Society of Addiction Medicine held
recently in Los Angeles, Calif.
