The self-help movement in the addiction field - revisited

The self-help principle has witnessed a recent upsurge in popularity in response to popular movements towards self-care and individual responsibility. It was power-to-the-people social movements in the 1960s that provided avenues for the development of the self-help group movement. Self-help groups in the treatment of addiction provide a non-judgmental caring and supportive focus, are based in the community, and are freely available to anyone who wishes to attend. Self-help groups in the addiction field are not explicitly used by the recovering drug-user or problem-drinker. Family self-help groups also have emerged and are good examples of sources of empowerment for those people who have become victims of circumstances. The aims of this paper are to examine the nature, ideologies, beliefs, benefits, and limitations of self-help groups and their role in advocacy and in complementing professional help in the addiction field.