Federal data show self-help groups as integral part of individuals' support.

An annual average of 5 million people attend self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) for support as they combat substance use problems, and for two of every three attendees this participation appears to constitute their only structured support.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last month released combined data from the 2006 and 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data sets to illustrate what experts consider the clearest overall picture yet of who is attending self-help groups. A compelling finding in the numbers is that while the majority of people who attend specialty treatment in a given year also engage in self-help groups, the reverse does not hold true. Most of those who populate church basements and recreation halls for AA or NA meetings are not also enrolled in treatment programs at the same time.

"A significant part of this group has never been involved in treatment," A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., chief executive of the Treatment Research …