Summary: The Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a long-standing and trusted method of drug and alcohol recovery for more than 75 years. Our guest today is clinical psychologist Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D. whose latest book provides scientific evidence based on multiple studies by researchers from universities and addiction research institutes to not only support that Twelve Step recovery works, but to explain how it works. The most renown of these is Project MATCH, a major study at Yale University that sought to investigate the effectiveness of the Twelve Step model compared with cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and motivational interviewing. Nowinski was asked to be part of the study creating the treatment protocol for people with the diagnoses of alcohol abuse or dependence. He also covers the dynamics of how Twelve Step recovery works, specifically how social networks, spirituality, and sponsorship all contribute to the recovery process.
