Are You Trying to Stop Drinking? This Is How SMART Recovery and Alcoholism Compare

Both provide a sense of community. Both provide structure. However, they travel rather distinct paths to recovery, and those paths have radically different effects on people.

Then, how can you determine what would be best for themselves?

That was the focus of a new study headed by Dr. John F. The study examined the viewpoints of 80 individuals in recovery from alcohol use disorder: 20 in SMART, 20 in AA, 20 doing both, and 20 selecting neither. It was published in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

Their responses provide valuable insights on what works and what does not for people trying to stop drinking.

Everyone agreed on one thing: friendship heals.

Dr. Kelly notes, "Being in a room with folks who just get it has a tremendously disarming effect." It eliminates stigma and embarrassment. In place of judgment, it substitutes empathy.

That feeling of "I am not alone in this" can change your life, whether you are on a Zoom call with strangers from across the nation or seated in a circle of folding chairs in a church basement.

What People Admire About Alcohol Addiction

Since its founding in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous has been present in most small towns across the United States. It has a sort of grassroots universality due to its duration. 1,800 AA meetings are held per week in the Boston area alone. When you contrast that with just 30 SMART meetings, it is clear why accessibility is so appealing.

Additionally, AA provides specialized choices, including as meetings for women, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and even those who choose to concentrate on trauma or bereavement.

Despite AA's reputation for having a 12-step program based on spiritual concepts, the study discovered that participants rarely discussed God or spirituality. Rather, the majority talked of the strength of camaraderie—the shared trust, responsibility, and concern among those on the same journey.

For some, the higher power is that human connection.

Why Do Individuals Choose SMART Recovery?

Established in 1990, SMART Recovery provides a slightly different approach: a straightforward, scientifically supported route to recovery.

Its methodology is based on techniques from motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which are frequently employed in therapeutic settings to assist individuals in changing their behavior, rethinking their thought patterns, and developing awareness. Meetings are planned, led by qualified facilitators—who may or may not be in recovery themselves—and intended to assist participants in developing coping mechanisms that they can use on a daily basis.

The catch is that, despite the fact that people frequently join SMART for the tools, they stick around because of the people. The most important factor is still that same pull toward community.

The study found that SMART members were less likely to have previously dealt with the criminal justice system, had higher levels of education, and were more financially secure. Additionally, they were less likely to have previously required formal therapy. SMART may seem like a better fit for people who have less serious drinking problems and who value science above religion.

Who Attends Both? Or neither?

People who were truly in the trenches made up the group that attended both SMART Recovery and AA. They were searching for any viable lifeline by casting a broad net. Dr. Kelly points out that this candor frequently reflects the severity of more severe addiction.

Overall, the effects of alcohol usage were less severe for those who participated in neither program. They might have discovered alternative routes to well-being, such as counseling, lifestyle modifications, or just enduring it alone.

The Practical Differences Between SMART and AA

Let us dissect it:

Highlights of Alcoholics AnonymousRecovery SMART

Established in 1935 and 1990

The Twelve Steps of the Core Approach and Spiritual PrinciplesMotivational science and cognitive behavioral therapy

Leaders of MeetingsMembers who are recuperatingFacilitators with training (not in recovery)

Sponsors Yes—a crucial component of the programPeer connections are encouraged but official sponsorship is not required.

Focus Give yourself over to a higher power and to your peers.Goal-setting, cognitive tools, and self-management

Accessibility widely accessible, particularly in citiesOnline solutions are less common but are expanding.

Members of AA are free to talk extensively, even if it occasionally means listening to a meandering "drunkalogue," and meetings are frequently less regimented. Facilitators of SMART meetings typically maintain greater attention. The facilitator gently refocuses the conversation whenever someone begins to take over the room.

What Actually Aids in Sobriety?

Three factors stand out as being the most predictive of long-term sobriety in AA, based on decades of research as well as Dr. Kelly's personal clinical experience:

have a sponsor. The most beneficial element is this personal connection—someone who is a few steps ahead of you and there when things go wrong.

participating in three or more meetings each week. It is important to be consistent. Keeping in touch with a recovery group on a regular basis keeps people grounded, particularly during the first few months.

raising one's voice during meetings. In "the meeting after the meeting"—those talks in the coffee shop or corridor where real-life support frequently starts—even a brief remark can strengthen your sense of community and lead to new connections.

Although SMART Recovery does not measure these variables in the same manner, stronger results are likewise associated with active engagement, emotional intelligence, and the use of recovery tools.

What is the Best Option for You?

Recovery is ultimately highly individualized. There is not a general solution. Things that work for your neighbor may not work for you.

Dr. Kelly urges individuals to explore because of this. Try things out. Attend gatherings of both kinds. Observe what seems encouraging or not.

He advises, "Select the recovery community that best suits your needs, values, and personality." "The program you will truly attend is the greatest one."

There is space for you in this work, regardless of whether you are motivated by facts or religion, structure or soul. Reaching out and allowing others to walk alongside you is the first step, not picking the ideal approach.