Sober for good: 20 years and longer in Alcoholics Anonymous

Models of recovery from alcoholism have failed to capture fully the stages of recovery beyond the early years of sobriety. Moreover, still less research has been done on the therapeutic process experienced by participants who attend 12-step-based recovery self-help groups regularly (at least once per week) for a very long time (20 years or longer).;The researcher sought to answer the seminal question: "Why do recovered alcoholics still attend meetings regularly after 20 years or more of AA participation?" This qualitative study was conducted with 12 recovering alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) with 20 years or more of continuous sobriety. Participants were queried regarding their experiences in the AA program and how these had changed from inception through the present day. Specific themes explored included experience with therapy other than AA; the development of healthier, more functional coping skills; the experience of the "promises" or rewards of living the AA program as promoted in AA literature; the experience of sponsorship and its significance; and members' changing roles over time. All participants had actively attended AA for the duration of their sobriety, and all have continued to do so through the present day.;The experiences of recovering alcoholics were integrated with the existing models of long-term recovery in AA, and a new model of recovery was developed. This research adds to the literature on very long-term recovery from alcoholism and expands current definitions of a continuum of recovery from alcoholism in AA. These observations also offer new and helpful ways of thinking about the process of long-term recovery for the clinician, for recovering alcoholics in AA, and for all those involved in long-term self-help group therapy.