A new study has found that other groups such as SMART work just as well as AA in terms of addressing addiction.
This is probably very common knowledge if you’ve ever struggled with a form of addiction and had a disliking for AA.
Although AA and other 12 step programs have been adopted by a variety of people with a wide selection of beliefs, the spiritual and religious aspects of the program can be uncomfortably baffling to some.
Modern critiques of the 12-step program also point towards there are many aspects of human psychology that are simply not catered for in the 12-step program. This could leave people who are trying to work the program facing challenges in their mental well-being that remain unresolved.
Some people with no belief system around the divine are encouraged to simply assume there is a higher power or chose something like electricity as their higher power, but this can seem utterly ridiculous to some people.
The SMART program makes logical sense, it is based around modern up-to-date psychological interventions and programs. It also gives people practical tools they can use in their every day life in order to address their triggers and cravings.
SMART is largely based on CBT, all of the worksheets and interventions within the program are lifted from other works on CBT. Which is good.
CBT addresses both:
THINKING
&
BEHAVIOUR
These are two vital components to get right when trying to address alcohol or addiction. One without the other is going to leave a person vulnerable to relapse or quite simple unable to make sustainable changes.
The only downside I can see about the SMART program is that although spreading, the program is exceptionally limited in terms of locations when compared to AA and NA .
Dylan Kerr Addiction Therapy 