Recovery Support Meetings for Youths: Considerations When Referring Young People to 12-Step and Alternative Groups

Abstract

Participation of young people in recovery support meetings is a promising yet largely understudied area. This article reviews the history of youth involvement in meetings, summarizes current research, and discusses issues to consider when making referrals. Professionals may want to research local meetings, help young people structure time before and after meetings, become familiar with group customs, investigate a variety of support groups, interact with support group service structures, develop a list Lora L.

Recovery Supports for Young People: What Do Existing Supports Reveal About the Recovery Environment?

“…Researchers have suggested a need for monitoring adolescents’ attendance and involvement in 12-Step programs and to teach them appropriate meeting etiquette (Cavailoa, Schiff, & Kane-Cavailoa, 1990; Passetti & White, 2010). To better understand the mechanisms by which 12-Step program attendance could be effective, in addition to studying the direct relationship between 12-step attendance and substance use outcomes, researchers have begun to study mediating factors among youth who attend 12-Step programs.…”

Continuing Care for Adolescents in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

“…Most group members will be significantly older, with longer substance use histories and different life challenges due to their age 42 . This age difference has also given rise to concerns about safety.…”

“…For example, recommendations to attend mutual support groups became increasingly popular following the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, and in the mid-twentieth century, the development of the Minnesota Model of treatment relying on 12-step education and meeting attendance 36–38 . Treatment programs have traditionally referred both adults and adolescents to these groups 39–42 .…”

The Effectiveness of Self-Help Groups for Adolescent Substance Misuse: A Systematic Review

“…In addition, the references of included studies and a number of relevant reviews were screened (i.e., Cavaiola, Schiff, & Kane- Cavaiola, 1990;Deas & Thomas, 2001;Elliott, Orr, Watson, & Jackson, 2005;Passetti, Godley, & Godley, 2012;Passetti & White, 2007;Williams & Chang, 2000;Winters, Botzet, & Fahnhorst, 2011). A list with studies on Narcotics Anonymous found on the Internet was also screened (White, Budnick, & Pickard, 2011).…”