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Monday, April 6, 2009

A model of access to and continuance in Alcoholics Anonymous



These data from a nationally representative sample of US adults with alcohol use disorders revealed a robust significant association of high symptom severity with access, continuation and discontinuation from Alcoholics Anonymous.

The association of high symptom severity and negative life events supports the behavioral economic model of AA access and continuation as proposed in this paper.

Variables associated with access to AA were also associated with continuation in AA, except for the variables for gender and education level. Women were less likely to attend AA, but more likely to continue attending AA. College educated respondents were less likely to attend AA, but more likely to continue attending AA.

A sub-group of US adults with severe externalizing disorders, identified in this study, is associated with access to and continuation in AA.

In the US there is a a significant geographic regional variation in access to and continuation in AA.

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