Our analyses revealed that AA was associated both with significant increases in the pro-abstinence social network and significant decreases in the pro-drinking social network, which were both found to be mechanisms through which AA leads to greater rates of abstinence. These findings suggest that AA may exert its beneficial effects through two independent social mechanisms. However, as depicted in figure 2 the larger effect was related to AA's influence on reducing pro-drinking social ties. Most importantly, AA attendance may reduce relapse risk by reducing exposure to, or engagement with, people that support alcohol use. In addition, however, AA may also reduce relapse risk by enhancing the rewarding aspects of sobriety that come with greater engagement in a social recovery network. In other words, at this stage in the recovery process, high risk avoidance may be particularly important, but alternative and safe, social engagement may provide a smaller but additional benefit. AA appears to facilitate both.
