Peer Support Groups For Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of recovery support groups and how you can find addiction recovery support groups near you.
How Support Groups Support Long Term Addiction Recovery
Peer-based support for addiction recovery can play an important role in helping people with substance use disorders achieve and maintain sobriety. These groups provide peer-led (nonprofessional), nonclinical forms of support that focus on socially-supportive communication and exchange of addiction and recovery experience and skills to help each other through recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.1
Research has shown that social support is beneficial for addiction recovery, as can provide people with useful information, new skills, insight, and increased confidence.2 Additionally, it is often helpful to share experiences and hear from others who are also in recovery, because it can help reduce self-stigma.3
How Are Recovery Support Groups Different from Outpatient Treatment?
Social support from others in recovery are a part of many clinical addiction treatment programs like inpatient or outpatient rehab. However, some people may choose to participate in peer-based support groups as a non-clinical pathway to recovery or as part of their aftercare plan once their clinical addiction treatment has ended.1
In clinical rehab, social support generally occurs through participation in group therapy sessions led by a credentialed therapist or an addiction specialist, whereas external peer-based support groups are normally peer-led, by either paid or volunteer members.2
Rehab facilities will also likely incorporate clinical approaches, which are not utilized in peer-based support groups such as:4
- Behavioral therapy.
- Medications for substance use disorder.
- Psychoeducation.
Many people who have participated in support groups during rehab often continue on to join peer-based recovery support groups once their clinical treatment program has ended as part of their aftercare plan to sustain their recovery and help to avoid a relapse or return to substance use.
12-Step Program Options for Drug & Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Several popular peer support programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), utilize a methodology known as the “12 Steps.”1 Members of these no-cost groups can benefit from the guidance and support of a sponsor (a mentor who is more experienced in the program) as well as group support to help promote and sustain behavioral change and ongoing recovery.5
12-Step groups emphasize spiritual and emotional growth as tools to cope with the difficulties that may have originally contributed to an individual’s addiction, as well as to protect against relapse. These coping skills are also intended to produce continued sobriety and enhanced mental well-being.6
12-Step Programs like AA and NA promote a reciprocal helping model (referred to as “sponsorship”), whereby individuals serve as personal mentors to support newer members as they accrue time and experience in recovery. This arrangement helps both the helper and those helped.7
Studies examining the effects of 12-Step peer-based support groups (mutual-help organizations) generally show that participation is prospectively related to positive substance outcomes like abstinence over time.8
Anyone who is struggling with addiction is welcome to join 12-Step groups, and there is no formal application.9 The only requirement is for people to want to become abstinent;7 there are no other rules of regulations, but anyone who is actively under the influence of substances may be asked to leave group meetings.10
12-Step programs are not religious per se, but they do have some spiritual components like belief in a higher power. 5
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who come together to work on resolving their alcohol problems. AA is based on the above-mentioned 12 Steps and specifically focuses on attaining and maintaining abstinence from drinking.11 For many people, AA can provide a comprehensive program to help them stay sober, improve their interpersonal and stress management skills, and improve feelings of self-efficacy.1 AA is considered to be an effective non-clinical treatment pathway for people with alcohol use disorder, as studies have consistently shown that AA participation helps promote better alcohol outcomes over time.7
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is similar to AA, but it is geared toward people struggling with drug addiction. Membership is open to anyone who has a problem with any kind of drug. Groups function in a similar fashion to AA, except the words “drug” or “addiction” are substituted for “alcohol.”12 People who are interested in finding meetings can visit the NA meeting locator website.
Cocaine Anonymous (CA) & Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) are 12-Step groups for those in recovery from cocaine or crystal meth addiction, respectively.13,14 These groups follow the 12-Step tradition of the groups mentioned above. People can find:
- In-person CA meetings here.
- Online CA meetings here.
- CMA group meetings, both in-person and online here.
Non-12-Step Recovery Group Options
The 12-Step approach can be helpful for many people and studies have provided an evidence base to support its substance-use benefits., but those who prefer a nonspiritual or secular approach to recovery may prefer non-12-Step groups. There are many non-12-Step groups, sometimes called “secular mutual-help groups, that focus on non-spiritual aspects of addiction recovery. These non-12-Step programs do not require belief in a higher power and instead typically involve concepts of self-sufficiency and fostering nurturing relationships.12 Most of the research on peer-based support groups consists of studies of 12-step based groups; similar research is needed (and ongoing) to determine if they confer similar substance-related benefits, however, findings so far have been positive.15
S.O.S
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is a secular network of nonprofessional local groups that help people struggling with any substance, including alcohol, drugs, or food. Their goal is to help people achieve sobriety and freedom from their addictions via a secular approach that involves self-empowerment and responsibility for their abstinence.17
Although it is a secular group that uses a nonreligious, nonspiritual approach, anyone is welcome to participate.18
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is a secular group designed to help people in recovery from many different addictions, not exclusively drugs or alcohol.19
SMART Recovery is based on concepts taken from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (RET), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) to help people achieve abstinence; those who are abstinence-curious are also welcome to attend. SMART Recovery meetings are often, but not always, led by peers in recovery; facilitators may also include mental health or substance use treatment providers and other people with a desire to help others.16
Moderation Management
Moderation Management (MM) is a secular group designed to support reductions in alcohol use. It is not necessary to become abstinent, although they do advise a 30-day abstinence period for new members.20
People in an MM program share strategies that have helped them with others, but they don’t give advice, only support. Anyone is welcome to join MM meetings, provided that they have an interest in reducing their drinking patterns. However, MM may not be appropriate for patients who are dependent on alcohol or those with serious health problems.20
Women for Sobriety
Women for Sobriety (WFS) is one of the oldest support groups and is also the only active secular group that is exclusively for women.16 It is geared toward women who are struggling with problematic substance use and want to become sober. WFS is based on affirming the inherent self-value and self-worth of every woman, and asks that participants have the desire to discard feelings of guilt, shame. and humiliation.21
LifeRing Secular Recovery
LifeRing is a secular support group that is based on their “3-S philosophy,” which refers to Sobriety, Secularity, and Self-help. It was designed for people who are struggling with alcohol and illicit or non-medically indicated drugs, and helps people through sharing practical experiences and offering sobriety support.22
LifeRing is based on principles of social-cognitive change strategies informed by CBT and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).16
Find Addiction Treatment & Support That Works for You
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