Twelve-step program use among Oxford House residents: spirituality or social support in sobriety?

J Subst Abuse. 1995;7(3):311-8. doi: 10.1016/0899-3289(95)90024-1.

Abstract

Oxford House is a self-help, self-governed, democratic communal-living environment for recovering alcoholics and polysubstance abusers. In this study, 134 male residents (M age = 34 years old) were personally interviewed on their recovery process and, in particular, on their experience with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Most residents (76%) reported they attended weekly AA meetings to assist in their recovery, mainly to acquire effective techniques to maintain sobriety (72%). Many AA attendees (43%) claimed no sense of spirituality prior to joining AA, and for most of these men (71%), attendance at weekly meetings was not motivated by "spirituality" aspects of the program. In contrast, the majority of residents (53%) attending weekly AA meetings claimed that a sense of fellowship with similar recovering others was their reason for program involvement. It appears that among men living in a communal setting with other recovering addicts, the need for social support for sobriety from similar others continues beyond the confines of their residence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation*
  • Halfway Houses*
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Personality Assessment
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • Social Environment
  • Social Support*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Temperance / psychology