ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the historical use of groupwork in helping people with alcohol problems, the aims of groups and selection of group membership. Groupwork has been a popular method of intervention for using with people who have problems, particularly since the Second World War. Alcoholics Anonymous has been central to the development of a whole range of self-help groups for people experiencing similar difficulties, unrelated to the use of alcohol. Problem drinkers are likely to benefit in much the same way as other people with problems do in group situations. Pre-contemplators are those who use the least change strategies. Contemplators are those at the stage in the process of change who are considering the need to do something about their drinking. Individuals at the maintenance stage will have changed their drinking behaviour for quite some time, perhaps months or even years.
