Long-term outcomes of alcohol use disorders: Comparing untreated individuals with those in alcoholics anonymous and formal treatment

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how the type and timing of help received over 8 years by previously untreated problem drinking individ uals were Linked to drinking and functioning outcomes. Method: Ar the time of the 8-year follow-up, individuals (N = 466, 51% male) had self-selected into four groups: no treatment (n = 78), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) only (n = 66), formal treatment only (n = 74). or formal treatment plus AA (n = 248 ). Results: Individuals who received some type of help-AA, formal treatment or both-were more likely ro be abstinent at 8 years than were untreated in dividuals. Although the AA only group was better off than the formal treatm ent only group at 1 and 3 years, the informally and formally treated groups were equivalent on drinking outcomes at 8 years. Similarly, despite the fo rmal treatment plus AA group having been better off at 1 and 3 years than t he formal treatment only group, the two formal treatment groups were compar able on drinking at 8 years. Both helped and untreated individuals improved between baseline and 1 year on drinking outcomes, but only formally treate d individuals showed continued improvement over 8 years on drinking indices . Participation in AA or formal treatment during Year 1 of follow-up was as sociated with better drinking outcomes at 8 years. Conclusions: Individuals who obtain help for a drinking problem, especially relatively quickly, do somewhat better on drinking outcomes over 8 years than those who do not rec eive help, but there is little difference between types of help on long-ter m drinking outcomes.