Attitudes of AA contact persons toward group participation by persons with a mental illness

Abstract

Alcoholics Anonymous groups are underused by persons with the dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance use disorder, and mental health professionals are cautious about referring them to AA because of fears that the AA group will discourage them from taking prescribed medication. The study assessed the attitudes of 125 AA contact persons about the participation of persons with mental illness. The majority had positive attitudes toward such persons, and 93 percent indicated that they should continue taking their medication. Fifty-four percent felt that participation in a group especially for persons with a dual diagnosis would be more desirable than in a traditional AA group. However, such groups are often not available.