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When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many 12-step meetings rapidly transitioned from an in-person to an online format. In this qualitative focus group study, 17 attendees of 12-step programs from six U.S. states participated in one of two focus groups on Zoom platform in August 2021 in which their experiences of attending online versus in-person meetings were explored. Respondents praised the accessibility and convenience of online meetings, and the ability to interact with members from different geographic locations. However, they noted the loss of intensive social support found at in-person meetings and technological/procedural challenges that remain unsolved online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face-to-face mutual-aid meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous shuttered with the onset of COVID-19. Research could not be conducted quickly enough to provide guidance for how to respond. However, two powerful tools could be leveraged: the research on mutual aid conducted before the pandemic and the vast number of virtual resources that proliferated with the onset of the pandemic. This article reviews the existing mutual aid research and its relevance to COVID-19, describes the diverse array of virtual resources, and provides recommendations for successful engagement with virtual mutual aid during COVID-19 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on association of the non-profit organization Narcotics Anonymous in management of opioid addiction. Topics discussed include involvement of NA in organization of orientation for patients with substance-use disorders, illustration of different misconceptions regarding NA such as evolution of NA as anti-treatment for opioid addiction, contribution of NA in development of paucity of attention for patients and observation of long-term recovery among NA members.

The emergence of recovery as an organizing construct has sparked interest in mapping the varieties of addiction recovery experience. This study uses interpretive (qualitative) phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine six-diverse pathways of long-term addiction recovery. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six respondents representing natural recovery, Twelve-Step (Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous) recovery (separate), secular recovery, faith-based recovery, and medication-assisted recovery. Common and distinct features of these pathways of addiction recovery are discussed with noted implications for the design of addiction treatment, recovery support services, and an understanding of recovery itself. Qualitative research can be a valuable tool in the elucidation of addiction recovery pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing measures of 12-Step mutual-help activity typically capture only a narrow range of experiences and combine fellowships with explicitly different substance-specific emphases (e.g., Alcoholics vs. Narcotics Anonymous). To help expand our knowledge in this important area, the authors report on the development and use of a comprehensive multidimensional measure of 12-Step experiences in two clinical samples of young adults and adolescents (N = 430). One-week test-retest reliability was verified on a subsample. Results indicated high content validity and reliability across seven dimensions of experience (meeting attendance, meeting participation, fellowship involvement, step work, mandated attendance, affiliation, and safety), and the measure successfully discriminated between samples on anticipated activity levels. This measure provides rich data on mutual-help activities and deepens our understanding of individuals' experiences across different 12-Step organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence from multiple lines of research supports the effectiveness and practical importance of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Conference presenters discussed the relationship between 12-Step participation and abstinence among various populations, including adolescents, women, and urban drug users. Insight from the arts and humanities placed empirical findings in a holistic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs represent an affordable and widely accessible community-based resource for the estimated 18 million Americans with alcohol-related disorders. While substantiating information regarding 12-step programs remains challenging due to their autonomous structure and emphasis on anonymity, an ever increasing body of research provides a wealth of data regarding AA's efficacy, mechanisms of change, and viability for various special populations. This review presents key empirical findings from 2002 to 2007 in these areas, as well as proposes recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents treated for substance use disorders (SUDs) appear to benefit from participation in Alcoholics Anonymous/ Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA). However, as compared with adults, fewer adolescents attend, and those who do attend do so less intensively and discontinue sooner. It is unknown whether this disparity is due to a lowered expectation for youth participation by the clinicians treating them, as they may adapt the adult-based model to fit a less-dependent cohort, or whether recommendations are similar to those of clinicians who work with adults and other factors are responsible. All clinical staff (N = 114) at 5 adolescent programs (3 residential, 2 outpatient) were surveyed anonymously about referral practices and other beliefs about 12-step groups. Staff rated AA/NA participation as very important and helpful adolescent recovery and referral rates were uniformly high (M = 86%, SD = 28%). Desired participation frequency was over 3 times per week. The theoretical orientation and level of care of the programs influenced some results. Findings suggest lower adolescent participation in 12-step groups is not due to a lack of clinician enthusiasm or referrals, but appears to be due to other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]