Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded in 1935, sponsors the 12-step program to achieve the goal of complete abstinence from all drugs and alcohol. Its strong social support orientation entails participation in meetings for an indefinite period of time. The AA program is founded on a strong spiritual component.

Self-Management and Recovery Training (S.M.A.R.T.) seeks to achieve complete abstinence from alcohol or drugs for its participants. To meet this goal, they attempt to identify and change destructive thinking. The program can last from 6 to 24 months, or until the mandated skills are mastered by the participant. It does not sponsor group meetings but rather teaches self-management techniques.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S.), a group with no spiritual or religious component, stresses self-empowerment and making abstinence "Priority One" in the participant's life. It builds in a strong network of social support throughout the open-ended length of the program.

Some self-help groups are specifically designed to meet the needs of family members. Al-Anon for families of alcoholics and Alateen for adolescent children of alcoholics are well known. Children with alcoholic parents can also find support from The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA).