Soviet Hangover: Russia, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Soviet Legacy Author: Dan Catchpole, Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington

Abstract: The Russian Federation faces a grave public health and social crisis today in the form of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, yet alcoholism treatment in Russia is largely ineffective. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the largest treatment organization in the world, has made little progress in Russia since first allowed in 20 years ago. Given the degree and type of Russia's alcohol problems, the country should be fertile ground for AA.

This paper argues that AA’s growth in Russia has been impeded by popular, medical and official attitudes towards alcoholism and public health that are leftover from the Soviet Union. In support of this argument AA's experiences in Russia and Poland are compared.