Differences between AA and SMART Recovery
By Tom Horvath, PhD
On October 22, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, SMART Recovery held its first international conference, in conjunction with the Lisbon Addictions 2024 conference. Lisbon Addictions drew over 2,000 attendees. SMART’s event only had about 50, but they attended from Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong, Africa, the US, and throughout Europe.
SMART was also celebrating its 30th birthday. Although a human baby requires nine months preparation for birth, SMART’s birth required about five years. By October 1994, it was an independent non-profit operating with the name SMART Recovery.
At the conference SMART had a booth in the exhibit hall, where we explained to our many visitors what the differences between AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and SMART Recovery are.
SMART Recovery, like AA, is a free mutual help group. However, there are major differences. SMART
- Uses a self-empowering approach, rather than a powerlessness approach
- Supports abstinence, moderation, or harm reduction (and encourages participants to set their own goals)
- Does not expect belief in a higher power (it’s fine either way; a higher power is not part of the SMART approach)
- Encourages attendance for as long as needed (probably not a lifetime, but that’s OK too)
- Does not require (or encourage) the labels “alcoholic” or “addict”
- Supports the use of psychiatric and addiction medications (like buprenorphine or methadone)
- Does not give advice, but does present a wide range of tools and ideas
- Addresses any substance or activity (like gambling), not just alcohol
- Does not require participation in meetings (in Zoom meetings the screen may be off)
- Operates discussion meetings that are self-empowering, science informed, progress oriented, and holistic
- Encourages participants to learn about and focus on our “4 Points:” build and maintain motivation, cope with cravings, addressed related problems, achieve greater lifestyle balance (but using these Points is not required)
Although AA is an impressively worldwide organization, SMART currently has a more limited reach. Nevertheless, there are written materials in 16 languages and meetings in over 30 countries.
AA is now firmly established as being as effective as professional treatment for alcohol problems. The studies conducted so far suggest SMART is as effective as AA. Two more large studies are in progress. We expect these two studies to be published by 2025 or 2026. If these studies obtain similar results, SMART will be established as being as effective as AA.
Perhaps the most important difference between AA (and other 12-step groups) and SMART is that it appears that most people prefer SMART to AA. We expect scientific evidence of this observation to be published in the next few years.
For those seeking more information about SMART, the US website is:
The international website is:
Www.SMARTRecoveryInternational.org
As one of the co-founders of SMART Recovery (and its volunteer president for 20 years), I’m pleased to see how this “baby” is faring in the world. I believe that by the time we reach our 50th anniversary SMART will be as well-known and widely available as AA. Being on equal footing with AA will mean that individuals with addictive problems anywhere will have the option of learning about and benefitting from a self-empowering approach for change.
Liked this article? You might also be interested in: SMART Recovery at 30.