I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I no longer work at Dawn Farm and am now the Director of Behavioral Medicine at a community hospital, and a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work.
Views expressed here are my own.
Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.
View all posts by Jason Schwartz
One thought on “One of the fun things about science is that it can overturn your prejudices (trying again)”
A 2020 mega study from research juggernauts Cochrane garnered substantial attention when it concluded that “there is high quality evidence that manualized AA/[Twelve Step Facilitation] interventions are more effective than other established treatments, such as CBT.” Click-bait headlines proliferated touting things like, “AA Superior to CBT for Alcohol Addiction,” and, “AA Still Best to Beat Problem Drinking.” The 2020 Cochrane study conclusion was strikingly divergent from a similar Cochrane mega-study in 2006, which concluded that “no experimental studies unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of AA or [Twelve Step Facilitation] approaches.” Such discrepancies warrant further investigation.
Beyond the surface of the click-bait headlines, details help make sense of Cochrane’s contradictory findings in 2006 and 2020. The 2006 study measured treatment success based on recovery rates determined by factors like improved quality of life and reduced drinking in addition to abstinence. The 2020 Cochrane study measured success exclusively by continuous, unbroken abstinence. Odd, considering that factors like improved quality of life and reduced use are viable outcomes and important measures of success in addiction treatment. – by Thaddeus Camlin, PsyD https://www.practicalrecovery.com/prblog/2020-cochrane-study-says-aa-is-more-effective-than-cbt/?fbclid=IwAR0hqDc-VlvjGJg-PN1bm20sFBW4cW43qaDUCwsQrS6b4tQnEIp83iUnFJM
recoveryreview.blog 
A 2020 mega study from research juggernauts Cochrane garnered substantial attention when it concluded that “there is high quality evidence that manualized AA/[Twelve Step Facilitation] interventions are more effective than other established treatments, such as CBT.” Click-bait headlines proliferated touting things like, “AA Superior to CBT for Alcohol Addiction,” and, “AA Still Best to Beat Problem Drinking.” The 2020 Cochrane study conclusion was strikingly divergent from a similar Cochrane mega-study in 2006, which concluded that “no experimental studies unequivocally demonstrated the effectiveness of AA or [Twelve Step Facilitation] approaches.” Such discrepancies warrant further investigation.
Beyond the surface of the click-bait headlines, details help make sense of Cochrane’s contradictory findings in 2006 and 2020. The 2006 study measured treatment success based on recovery rates determined by factors like improved quality of life and reduced drinking in addition to abstinence. The 2020 Cochrane study measured success exclusively by continuous, unbroken abstinence. Odd, considering that factors like improved quality of life and reduced use are viable outcomes and important measures of success in addiction treatment. – by Thaddeus Camlin, PsyD https://www.practicalrecovery.com/prblog/2020-cochrane-study-says-aa-is-more-effective-than-cbt/?fbclid=IwAR0hqDc-VlvjGJg-PN1bm20sFBW4cW43qaDUCwsQrS6b4tQnEIp83iUnFJM
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