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AA And NA For Teens

Only 10% of the estimated 1.4 million teens with an alcohol or drug problem are receiving treatment, compared to 20% of adults. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) are now deemed an effective adjunct to substance abuse treatment for adults. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these programs for teens. This review article looks at teen involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA), and at studies of formal teen treatment programs that used an AA/NA model. The article also provides data on the effects of AA/NA attendance on abstinence, which youth tend to become involved in AA/NA, and the benefits of AA/NA participation.

 Approximately two thirds of formal inpatient and outpatient treatments for teens are considered to be, at least in part, based on the 12 Step principles. Unfortunately, there is little research on teen involvement in informal community-based 12 Step programs. These programs are convenient and free and provide sober peer support.  Yet, at present, only about 11% of AA members and 14% of NA members are 21-30 years old and only 2% are under 21.

The author reviewed 19 studies that had investigated the effects of AA/NA on teen drug use. Only formal 12-step oriented programs mentioned any evaluation of youth alcohol/drug use. Levels of abstinence averaged 30%-40% across the studies and time points. Eleven of the studies found that AA/NA attendance increased   abstinence by two to three-fold over non-participants. A wide range of reasons was found for why teens attended meetings: feeling hopeless, motivated for abstinence, drug-free friends, a history of previous treatment, having experienced severe alcohol or drug problems, need to feel connected to others, and desire for a more spiritual orientation to life.

Possible reasons cited for limited teen participation in AA/NA were difficulty in admitting powerlessness, the shorter duration of their problem, a teen’s need to test limits, higher probability of being in treatment involuntarily, discouragement by older members, and structural barriers such as transportation.

The author suggests several means to increase teen involvement in AA/NA, such as AA pamphlets and a variety of other literature designed for teens and their parents. There are 12-Step groups designed for teens to help teens, as well as 12-Step chat rooms and forums. Novel ideas such as “sober schools” have been developed to provide treatment without interrupting education. The review states that treatment for teens is superior to no treatment, and that participation in AA/NA results in enhanced alcohol/drug use outcomes, but concludes that much can be done to increase teen participation.

(Sussman, S,: A review of alcoholics anonymous/narcotics anonymous programs for teens.  Evaluations and the Health Professions 33: 26-55, 2010

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