12 Step Effectiveness for Women and Ethnic Groups

12-step program participation and effectiveness: Do gender and ethnic differences exist?

The 12 step process is an integral treatment option needed for the success of the alcoholic’s recovery from this terrible addiction. The question has been asked about the progress of the 12 step process for women and ethnic minorities.

The 12 step program has been used more and more to help recovering alcoholics beat their drinking addiction. This process is viewed by abuse specialist as big part in the treatment and long term recovery; some answers were needed regarding the participation of women and ethnic minorities. In reference to reports the 12 step program was more geared towards European -American males, but women and ethnic minorities were just as likely to attend 12 step programs and have as much success as the European - American males. Some addiction specialists express the advantages of integrating the 12 step program into the traditional treatment and are recommending the program for clients of all genders and race.

Simultaneous participation in the 12 step program and regular treatment options had higher levels of abstinence then those participating in a regular program or the 12 step program alone. The article stated that certain groups attend and drop out of the 12 step program and whether African-Americans would benefit from the 12 step program, and found know difference in the numbers in those who participated and the ones that did not participate in the help groups, race, gender, education, and marital status. The African- Americans who went through the 12 step process had better results than those that did not participate in the program.

The step program is often not recommended to females and certain ethnic males. Through the study that was used in this article, showed that women and ethnic minorities could benefit from the use of the 12 step program. When infused with the traditional treatment methods, whether it is used for alcohol...