San Diego Sober Living - Recovery

How to Maintain Sobriety without AA: Exploring Alternative Paths to Recovery

The process of recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) or other types of substance abuse isn’t monolithic. There are many approaches, strategies, and treatment plans. For example, individuals who are referred to sober living homes benefit from transitional treatment, but not everyone would be a candidate. Many patients who transition to outpatient counseling from a sober living environment such as Encinitas sober living housing get strong recommendations to attend peer support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Such recommendations are made with sobriety in mind. However, attending AA meetings isn’t a necessary requirement for staying sober.

AA & Sobriety Rates

In a 2014 longitudinal survey of thousands of AA members in the United States, the success rate of the program was estimated to be around 50 percent. The survey had the support of AA fellowship leaders, who accepted a lack of severe AUD relapse as a measure of successful recovery. Approximately 25 percent of the AA members surveyed reported abstinence periods longer than two decades. In 2020, researchers at Stanford University conducted a deep-dive study into AA statistics, and their findings suggest a higher success rate of 60 percent. It should be noted that abstinence doesn’t always equal sobriety in a holistic context. Individuals who lapse but don’t relapse back into severe AUD can also be sober.

Increasing Your Sobriety Potential through AA

In the aforementioned Stanford University study, the researchers noticed a strong correlation between AA meetings and sustained sobriety. The practical explanation for this trend is simple: the risk of severe relapse is sharply reduced through consistent AA involvement. In other words, if you feel AA is a good fit for you, attending meetings would be an excellent strategy to extend the progress of your recovery journey. AA rolls the school of life and the school of hard knocks into a raw package where you learn to recover, love yourself, and help your peers.

When AA Isn’t a Good Fit

Although the AA fellowship is known for its flexible approach to recovery, there are some principles of its 12-step program that not everyone agrees with. The group dynamics and social interaction of AA can feel overwhelming if you deal with high levels of social anxiety. If a physician, counselor, or recovery case manager detects AA isn’t a good fit, your outpatient treatment plan will reflect this aspect. Some AUD patients will benefit more from one-on-one counseling sessions, particularly when they include elements of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Staying Sober without AA

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many AA meetings moved online, thus sparking a movement of attendees who prefer to attend virtually for various reasons. This isn’t exactly a new development. Online support groups for people in recovery have existed since the days of USENET and mailing lists. If this peer support technique works better for you, feel free to incorporate it into your recovery path. Professional support is always better. To this effect, your options include licensed therapists, life counselors, and sober lifestyle coaches. You can also increase your participation in sober activities you enjoy, and staying close to loved ones who support your recovery is highly recommended.

One of the best and most effective ways to maintain sobriety and optimize recovery is to have the help of a recovery coach. Encinitas men who need assistance with staying sober can get the help they need at Casa Pacifica. Our men’s sober living mentorship program works with individual residents to develop customized plans that integrate treatment, aftercare, and recovery support resources, which results in meaningful experiences and positive outcomes in their new lives. Our services include coaching, sober companionship, and mentorship for those who are recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. To learn more about our program, call us today.