Final answer:
A typical self-help group program for addicts follows a 12-step model, which includes group therapy and 'healthy talk' that supports recovery. These steps form part of an effective treatment strategy, often combined with other behavioral therapies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Typically, a self-help group program for addicts follows a 12-step process. These programs, originating from the model established by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), provide a structured series of steps that participants can work through to aid in their recovery from addiction. The 12 steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction, believing in a power greater than oneself, making amends for past harms, and continued personal inventory and improvement.
Group therapy plays a crucial role in providing social support and a platform for sharing experiences among members, which is an integral part of the recovery process. According to the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, group therapy sessions are venues where participants can engage in 'healthy talk' that reinforces their journey towards recovery, as identified by anthropologist Summerson Carr. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment also recognizes the importance of group therapy within substance abuse treatment.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that behavioral therapies, which can include participation in self-help groups, are effective components of a comprehensive treatment strategy. Programs that utilize these steps create a supportive community aiming at long-term recovery and personal growth for addicts.