Prevalence and correlates of 12-step and second-wave mutual-help attendance in a nationally representative US sample

Mutual-help organizations (MHOs) are effective community-based, recovery support options for individuals with alcohol and other drug use disorders (i.e., substance use disorder; SUD). Greater understanding of second-wave MHOs, such as SMART Recovery, can help build on existing research that has focused primarily on 12-step MHOs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, to inform scientific, practice, and policy recommendations.

We conducted a secondary analysis of the National Recovery Study, a representative sample of US adults who resolved a substance use problem (N = 1984). Using survey-weighted estimates, we examined descriptive statistics for any lifetime, weekly lifetime, and past 90-day MHO attendance; we compared rates of 12-step and second-wave MHO attendance over time by descriptively examining distributions for calendar year of the first meeting attended. We also used two logistic regression models to examine demographic, substance use, clinical, and recovery-related correlates of weekly lifetime attendance separately for 12-step (n = 692) and second-wave MHOs (n = 32).

For any attendance, 41.4% attended a 12-step MHO and 2.9% a second-wave MHO; for weekly attendance, 31.9% attended a 12-step MHO, and 1.7% a second-wave MHO. Two-thirds (64%) of initial second-wave attendance occurred between 2006 and 2017 compared to 22% of initial 12-step attendance during this time frame. Significant correlates of weekly 12-step MHO attendance included histories of SUD treatment and arrest. Significant correlates of weekly second-wave MHO attendance included Black identity (vs. White) and history of SUD medication.

Attendance at second-wave MHOs is far less common than 12-step MHOs, but appears to be on the rise. Observed correlates of second-wave MHO attendance should be replicated in larger second-wave MHO samples before integrating these findings into best practices. Enhanced linkages from clinical and criminal justice settings to both second-wave and 12-step groups may help to "broaden the base" of MHOs.