Editing Alcoholics Anonymous (section)

==== Comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness ====
A 2020 systematic review indicated that manualized AA and Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF) therapy yields more healthcare cost savings and leads to higher continuous abstinence rates.{{efn|name=manualized}}<ref name="Cochrane2020" /><ref name="NPRCochrane2020">{{cite news |last=Becker |first=Deborah |title=New Review Finds Alcoholics Anonymous Is Effective, But Not For Everyone |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/12/815097806/new-review-finds-alcoholics-anonymous-is-effective-but-not-for-everyone |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> A longitudinal study suggests that LifeRing and SMART Recovery fared worse than AA across several outcomes, however, the effects are insignificant when controlling for the baseline alcohol goal of total abstinence.<ref name="Zemore2018">{{cite journal |last1=Zemore |first1=Sarah E |last2=Lui |first2=Camillia |last3=Mericle |first3=Amy |last4=Hemberg |first4=Jordana |last5=Kaskutas |first5=Lee Ann |year=2018 |title=A longitudinal study of the comparative efficacy of Women for Sobriety, LifeRing, SMART Recovery, and 12-step groups for those with AUD |journal=Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment |volume=88 |pages=18–26 |doi=10.1016/j.jsat.2018.02.004 |pmc=5884451 |pmid=29606223}}

* {{lay source|template=cite news|author=German Lopez|date=5 Mar 2018|title=Alcoholics Anonymous works for some people. A new study suggests the alternatives do too|url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/3/5/17071690/alcoholics-anonymous-aa-smart-lifering-study|work=Vox}}</ref> More recent studies employing randomized and blinded trials have shown 12-step programs provide similar benefit compared to motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] (CBT), and were more effective in producing continuous abstinence and remission compared to these approaches.<ref name="Kelly2020">{{cite journal |last1=Kelly |first1=John F |last2=Abry |first2=Alexandra |last3=Ferri |first3=Marica |last4=Humphreys |first4=Keith |date=6 July 2020 |title=Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-Step Facilitation Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Distillation of a 2020 Cochrane Review for Clinicians and Policy Makers |url= |journal=Alcohol and Alcoholism |volume=55 |issue=6 |pages=641–651 |doi=10.1093/alcalc/agaa050 |issn=0735-0414 |eissn=1464-3502 |pmc=8060988 |pmid=32628263}}</ref>