01 / 06
What Peer and Mutual-Help Groups Provide
Peer and mutual-help groups offer ongoing, nonprofessional support that is provided by people with shared experiences. They may have a leader but are often run by participants. In peer and mutual-help groups, everyone is in the same position: needing help or support. Mutual-support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Peer-recovery support services (a form of peer support) are provided by people who are in recovery themselves.
Peer and mutual-help groups can provide a lot for you, including:
- A safe place to talk openly
- Support when it's hard to do on your own
- Comfort that comes from knowing you're not alone
- Encouragement that you will recover
But they cannot provide everything you might need. For example, they cannot diagnose mental health conditions or substance use disorders or replace treatment if needed.
Peer and mutual-help groups are a good complement to professional treatment for substance use problems.
These groups provide the opportunity to connect with other people who share your concerns, including:
- Individuals who have used alcohol, drugs, or both
- People living with mental health conditions
- Family members or loved ones impacted by someone else's substance use disorder
While all peer services are based on a set of values, there is no uniform approach to delivery of services across programs. These are some of the characteristics common to most peer support services:
- Peer coaches or facilitators have personal experience with problematic substance use.
- Peers receive training and support from professionals.
- Peer services provide non-clinical support that can include coaching, advocacy, mentoring, friendship, emotional support, accountability, outreach, education, networking, social support, and recovery planning.
02 / 06
Twelve-Step Meetings Such as AA
Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as AA) is the most common 12-step program for treating alcohol use disorder. Participants meet regularly at local meetings where they share their stories about struggles with alcohol, as well as insights into recovery. AA encourages members to reach out to others for support when needed and to avoid situations that might tempt them to drink again. Members can also seek individual therapy from an addiction professional if desired.
AA meetings invite members to share drinking histories and experiences, and to offer guidance, inspiration, and encouragement for staying sober.
People can attend AA or other 12-step meetings at any time in their addiction and recovery journeys.
AA is self-governing and does not employ professional staff. Members are expected to attend meetings regularly and to provide support for others who seek help.
AA members usually follow 12 steps and practice 12 traditions, although these practices are not required for all meetings. The steps focus on recognizing and admitting powerlessness over alcohol and on working toward a more spiritually centered life. Steps typically involve asking forgiveness from people who were harmed by one's drinking; making amends to those individuals when appropriate; continuing to seek help from a higher power; helping others who are struggling with addiction; and striving for continuous improvement.
AA meetings follow the traditions of anonymity, which means that members can keep their identity confidential while attending meetings, as well as avoiding using names when sharing personal stories. Members also strive to avoid criticism or judgment of fellow attendees when providing support or advice during meetings.
Sponsors in twelve-step fellowships guide newer members and help them work the steps. If you choose to attend these meetings, ask whether there is an older member of the group (often called "a sponsor") who can mentor you.
03 / 06
SMART Recovery and Non-Twelve-Step Choices
In addition to 12-step groups like AA, there are other options for finding mutual support in your recovery. SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training) is an evidence-based approach to substance use recovery that offers face-to-face and online meetings worldwide. In SMART, participants learn how to overcome urges to use substances by developing motivation, coping skills, and problem-solving skills; they can also practice cognitive-behavioral techniques like thought stopping and thought substitution to deal with triggers in the moment. The focus is on teaching participants to be self-reliant instead of relying on a higher power as in 12-step programs.
SMART Recovery and other non-twelve-step groups often don't focus on spirituality or have formal twelve steps to follow. Instead they use cognitive behavioral techniques (such as thought-stopping, cognitive restructuring, and distraction) to help people deal with urges to drink. They also teach skills for social support, problem-solving, and relapse prevention. SMART Recovery meetings offer a good option for people who are interested in learning skills but aren't comfortable with the spiritual emphasis of AA or other twelve-step groups.
Non-twelve-step options include SMART Recovery, which is also available online. The emphasis here is on empowerment and problem-solving rather than the Twelve Steps or spirituality. Women for Sobriety and LifeRing are two other non-twelve-step alternatives, both of which have an online presence.
04 / 06
Meetings Built for Families
Al-Anon and Alateen meetings focus on relatives and friends who are affected by a person's drinking or substance use disorder. These meetings offer a forum to share experiences and find support from others facing similar challenges. You will not be alone in your experience of supporting your loved one.
Alateen, a special Al-Anon group, is available for teenagers.
Al-Anon meetings are designed for families who struggle with the effects of a loved one's drinking. The meetings provide a safe place where family members can share their experience, strength, and hope to overcome their challenges.
Al-Anon meetings are open to anyone affected by another person's drinking, including:
- Friends
- Family members
- Neighbors
- Anyone in the community
05 / 06
Combining Groups With Clinical Care
Medicines for alcohol use disorder may be paired with counseling or mutual-support groups to help people maintain abstinence.
Mutual-help groups are often considered part of the treatment program, but they are not led by a trained counselor. They're usually self-run by their members. Many mutual-help groups exist, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and other 12-step programs. SMART Recovery is an alternative mutual help group that offers seminars, support meetings, and online forums. Members of these groups attend regularly to learn from the experiences of others and support each other in their attempts at abstinence.
Peer recovery support services are designed as long-term recovery support for individuals who have a history of substance use disorders. Peer recovery coaches assist people in making connections that can facilitate long-term recovery. They may also serve as liaisons between treatment providers, recovery organizations, and the community at large to promote recovery-friendly policies and programs.
AA provides peer support through regular group meetings in which members discuss their experiences and ask for advice. SMART Recovery takes a more cognitive-behavioral approach to recovery, providing materials to help participants examine beliefs that underlie addictive behavior and learn strategies to change them.
Combining clinical care with mutual-support groups can enhance the effect of both. For example:
- A person in treatment for alcohol use disorder might attend AA meetings or SMART Recovery meetings during the day or in the evenings.
Mutual-help groups are another form of peer support. They also include SMART Recovery meetings, secular programs such as Women for Sobriety or LifeRing Secular Recovery, and other mutual-aid support groups with a variety of approaches.
In addition to reducing alcohol use, behavioral treatments help people identify and cope with the stresses and events that trigger heavy drinking. These therapies also aim to help modify other unhealthy or harmful lifestyles that may be linked to alcoholism. They can include individual, family, or group counseling; couples therapy; or community support programs.
Aftercare plans often name mutual-support groups (such as AA) that may provide extra help after treatment ends. The therapist or other care team member can suggest appropriate mutual-help options based on their clients' needs, interests, and reading levels.
06 / 06
Peer Recovery Support Through Ohio Boards
County ADAMH boards plan recovery supports that are part of local community-based systems of care that are recovery-oriented. The boards also monitor these services and supports to make sure they're working well in communities.
Many peer specialists work with community mental health centers, addiction treatment programs, and other health care settings. They provide supportive services for people who have experienced substance use problems or co-occurring conditions. In general, a peer specialist is someone who has personal experience with problematic substance use and recovery and provides emotional support for people seeking or in recovery from problematic substance use.
Peer specialists help people seek or remain in recovery by providing supportive counseling. They also can connect you with additional services or supports, such as treatment, housing, employment, education, or health care.
County ADAMH boards plan recovery supports that provide peer support services by peer specialists and peer-run organizations. These boards also may contract for peer recovery support services.
There are many different types of peer support services available in Ohio, including but not limited to:
- One-on-one, face-to-face peer support
- Support groups based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Family and friends recovery support groups
Ohio county boards include peer recovery support through both their peer support services and through treatment and recovery support services.