Barriers to Entry into 12-Step Mutual Help Groups among Justice-Involved Women with Alcohol Use Disorders

Although involvement in twelve step mutual help groups (TMGs) is an accessible and effective means of addressing alcohol problems, many justice-involved women do not attend. This study examined barriers to TMG attendance for 135 justice-involved women with alcohol use disorders. TMG attenders were more likely than non-attenders to say their past contacts with people in TMGs were not helpful (χ² = 4.91, p =.027); non-attenders were more likely to report that they did not want to change (χ² = 7.58, p= .006). Findings provide guidance on how to enhance interest in and attendance at TMGs among justice-involved women returning to the community.