Molar Environmental Contexts Surrounding Recovery From Alcohol Problems by Treated and Untreated Problem Drinkers

The relation between event occurrences and recovery from drinking problems was investigated in abstinent problem drinkers with different help-seeking histories: no assistance (n = 18), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) only (n = 18), or alcohol treatment plus AA (n = 21). Events were assessed retrospectively for a 4-year period that spanned the 2 years before and 2 years after subjects initiated stable abstinence (M = 6.8 years abstinent). Collaterals verified subjects' reports. Events common to recovery across the 3 help-seeking groups included decreases from the pre- through the postresolution period in events reflecting health, legal, intimate relations, and family problems and increases during the year following initial abstinence in events reflecting positive changes in health habits, finances, social activities, and intimate relations. The changes in legal and social events and in positive events generally were due largely to the 2 groups who had received assistance. Results suggest similarities in the molar environmental contexts that surround recoveries achieved with and without assistance, whereas differences in event occurrences due to help-seeking status were more circumscribed.