Current Status of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous in Greece: Factors Influencing Member Enrollment

Abstract

In Greece, the self-help groups of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have existed for more than 20 years, but both qualitative and quantitative research in this field has been limited. This is the first study to examine AA and NA groups in Greece during a 16-month period (September 2004 to January 2006) in the cities of Athens, Thessalonica, Serres, Nauplion, Herakleion, and Katerine. This research was sponsored by the program of Social and Clinical Psychology of Addictions and Psychosocial Problems at the Aristoteleion University of Thessalonica in the context of graduate work, under the supervision of interim professor of clinical psychology, Dr. Phoebos Zapheirides. The aim of this study is to comprehensively describe the current status of AA and NA groups in Greece. Our primary goal is to establish a profile of individuals who use these services in our country. This article includes our analysis of responses to 15 questions from a survey eliciting information regarding group participation, period of sobriety, and sponsor characteristics. In addition, we compare our findings to those of the central AA and NA organizations, as well as to those of other researchers who have explored this subject. Our final sample was composed of 22 AA members and 60 NA members. The participants voluntarily and anonymously completed a 55-item questionnaire. The data were analyzed with the statistical software package SPSS-12, followed by thematic coding. We present factors influencing group participation (e.g., duration, frequency, and participation modality), group referral source, sponsor use, service as a sponsor, abstinence, and any relapse(s).

KEYWORDS:

• addiction
• recovery
• time experience
• therapeutic community