HWN Suggests

There’s a New 12-Step Group: Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous

It was quarter to seven, and St. Mark’s Church in Frankford, Philadelphia, was home to your typical pre-meeting bustle: A woman in pink in her mid-40s dragged mismatched metal chairs across the floor into a circle while the sound of a coffeepot crackled behind her. As is often the case in 12-step groups, there were concerns over the coffee—was it too light? (it was), would there be enough for next week’s meeting? (there wouldn’t). Family Dollar was allegedly out of sugar. This wasn’t an Alcoholics Anonymous or a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, though. This was a Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous, or a MARA meeting, a gathering of people who were united by their desire to recover from their…

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Articles of Interest

Mutual Support Groups

Mutual support groups are nonprofessional peer groups comprising of members who share the same problem and voluntarily support one another in their recovery. Formal treatment is not provided in groups of this nature. These groups provide social, emotional, and informational support for persons throughout the recovery process. Mutual support groups help individuals take responsibility for their addictions and for their sustained health, wellness, and recovery. The most widely available mutual support groups are 12-Step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, etc.

Alcoholics Anonymous works for some people. A new study suggests the alternatives do too

A new study has found, however, that AA, the original 12-step program, and others like it don’t have to be the only answer for people seeking out mutual help groups to deal with alcohol addiction. The study, in short, looked at how people’s self-reported outcomes with AA and 12-step programs compare with the three biggest alternative mutual help groups — Women for Sobriety, SMART Recovery, and LifeRing. It concluded that these other groups perform about as well as 12-step programs.

Can 12-Step Groups and Psychedelic Addiction Treatment Coexist?

The issue is not necessarily whether psychedelics are “better” than 12-step programs, or vice versa, but rather what are the consequences if these two recovery options remain mutually exclusive— if a person in AA feels that psychedelics can never be an option for them, or a person who utilizes psychedelics for recovery feels they can’t remain in their 12-step group.

Comparison of 12-step Groups to Mutual Help Alternatives for AUD in a Large, National Study: Differences in Membership Characteristics and Group Participation, Cohesion, and Satisfaction

Many studies suggest that participation in 12-step groups contributes to better recovery outcomes, but people often object to such groups and most do not sustain regular involvement. Yet, research on alternatives to 12-step groups is very sparse.

For Alcoholics, 12-Step Program Is Not the Only Answer

How does alcohol affect the brain and what kinds of medications can help people cut down consumption of it?

I was told the 12 steps would cure my addiction. Why did I end up feeling more broken?

In this quasi-religious programme, ‘working the steps’ is the remedy for any problem, but for me the cracks soon started to show.

Lessons in Taking Things One Day at a Time, From People in Recovery

Isolation presents a particular challenge for people living with addictions. But the tools that got them to this point are relevant to everyone now.

Recovery-Oriented Mutual Self-help Groups

Recovery-oriented mutual self-help groups can aid recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and facilitate personal growth through self-exploration and peer support. Although these groups are not a part of professional treatment, they can provide a rich source of support for recovery and complement other treatment.

The 12 steps may not work for everyone, but can transform lives

Readers respond to an article by Oscar Quine, in which he described his experience of a 12-step rehabilitation programme for drug addiction

The Surprising Failures of 12 Steps

How a pseudoscientific, religious organization birthed the most trusted method of addiction treatment

Twelve-step and mutual-help programs for addictive disorders

The preponderance of the research data now available indicates that the 12-step programs of AA, NA, Cocaine Anonymous, and Al-Anon are most helpful for alcohol-dependent and other drug-addicted patients as they seek to achieve secure, long-term abstinence. A growing number of clinicians is recommending that physicians become more knowledgeable and skilled in referring and supporting patients in working 12-step programs of recovery.

Twelve-Step and Non-Twelve-Step Meetings: Which is Right for You?

Twelve-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are some of the most popular formats of addiction recovery meetings. These programs are based on a broad concept of spirituality and encourage members to work through a series of steps to solidify their recovery. While many people have found long-term recovery through twelve-step programs, these meetings are far from being the only option available. It’s important to know about twelve-step options and the other pathways available to you.

With Sobering Science, Doctor Debunks 12-Step Recovery

Since its founding in the 1930s, Alcoholics Anonymous has become part of the fabric of American society. AA and the many 12-step groups it inspired have become the country's go-to solution for addiction in all of its forms. These recovery programs are mandated by drug courts, prescribed by doctors and widely praised by reformed addicts. Dr. Lance Dodes sees a big problem with that. The psychiatrist has spent more than 20 years studying and treating addiction.

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Resources

Alcoholics Anonymous

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. A.A. has a simple program that works. It’s based on one alcoholic helping another.

LifeRing

LifeRing Secular Recovery is an abstinence-based, anonymous organization dedicated to providing a safe meeting space where you can experience a non-judgmental recovery conversation with your peers. We do this through the lens of LifeRing's 3-S philosophy of Sobriety, Secularity, and Self-Help.

Narcotics Anonymous

The power of one addict helping another find freedom from active addiction.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is the leading, evidence-informed approach to overcoming addictive behaviors and leading a balanced life. SMART is stigma-free and emphasizes self-empowerment.

Women for Sobriety

Founded in 1975, Women for Sobriety (WFS) is the first peer-support program tailored specifically for women overcoming substance use disorders (SUDs). With both regional and online meetings, the New Life Program provides supportive, empowering, secular, and life-affirming principles that address the unique needs and challenges of women in recovery.

The Twelve Steps

The Twelve Steps are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be found at the beginning of the chapter “How It Works.” Essays on the Steps can be read in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.