World view transformations of Narcotics Anonymous members in Israel

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.