Twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous encourage members to accept that they are ‘powerless’ over their addictions. Indeed, an acceptance of one’s powerlessness is considered a prerequisite for overcoming addiction and the first step towards ‘recovery’.
However, research cited in Nir Eyal’s book, Indistractable: How To Control Your Attention And Choose Your Life, suggests that this way of thinking could be doing more harm than good.
[T]o determine how in control people feel regarding their cravings for cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol, researchers administer a standard survey called the Craving Beliefs Questionnaire. The assessment is modified for the participant’s drug of choice and presents statements like “Once the craving for prescription opioids starts, I have no control over my behavior”; “The cravings for prescription opioids are stronger than my will power”; and “I’ll always have cravings for prescription opioids.”
How people rate these statements tells researchers a great deal about not only their current state but also how likely they are to remain addicted. Participants who indicate they feel more powerful as time passes increase their odds of quitting. In contrast, studies of methamphetamine users and cigarette smokers found that those who believed they were powerless to resist were most likely to fall off the wagon after quitting.
The logic isn’t surprising, but the extent of the effect is remarkable. A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that individuals who believed they were powerless to fight their cravings were much more likely to drink again. (emphasis added)
These findings have profound implications for those looking to kick a drug habit or other compulsion. They suggest that, contrary to the beliefs espoused by proponents of twelve-step programs, those who are confident in their ability to master their internal desires have a much better chance of ending a destructive habit than those who don’t.1
For more on this topic, see Sally Satel and Scott Lilienfeld on Addiction: Quitting is the Rule, Not the Exception.
