Journal Facts

Journal
International Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care
ISSN
1091-2851 (print) 1541-4450 (electronic)
Volume
1
Issue
1
Date
1/1/1999

Article Facts

Title
World View Transformations of Narcotics Anonymous Members in Israel
DOI
10.2190/BWH7-PT8L-JDM9-L53A
Author
Natti Ronel and Keith Humphreys
Pages
107-121
Online Date
05/09/2002

Article Links

World View Transformations of Narcotics Anonymous Members in Israel

Natti Ronel and Keith Humphreys

DOI: 10.2190/BWH7-PT8L-JDM9-L53A

Abstract

The 12-Step mutual help organization Narcotics Anonymous (NA) has spread from the United States to a number of other societies, including Israel. In order to shed light on how substance-dependent Israelis adapt to a self-help program of foreign origin, this phenomenological field study describes how NA members in Israel undergo the process of "world view transformation" in four domains: experience of self, Universal Order/God, relationships with others, and problem of addiction. NA members in Israel experienced changes in philosophy and values which were similar to those documented in studies of addiction-related 12-Step self-help groups in the United States. Methodological and substantive explanations for the apparent cross-cultural similarity of world view change in 12-Step self-help groups are offered, and future directions for this research area are proposed.

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.