Due to the prognostic implications of patients’ social network ties and activities, different professionally-led treatments have been compared regarding their ability to effectively counteract this social relapse risk. A recent randomized study with alcohol dependent outpatients conducted by Litt et al. (2009) attempted to increase social network support for abstinence by systematically encouraging patients to make use of the social aspects of AA. Using the Important People and Activities (IPA) instrument (Clifford and Longabaugh, 1991) to measure abstinent network members and their behavioral and attitudinal support for drinking or abstinence, the investigators compared this social Network Support (NS) intervention to two separate active comparison treatments. Results revealed that those in the 12-step oriented NS condition gained 20% more days abstinent as well as greater AA attendance and involvement at 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, AA participation and the number of abstinent friends in the NS condition were found to partially mediate this effect (Litt et al, 2009).
