Participation in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous and Abstinence Outcomes of 322 Methadone Maintenance Patients

Abstract

In a survey of 322 patients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in a Northeastern United States urban community, more than one third (36.3%) of patients reported being 100% abstinent from alcohol and illicit drug use in the past year. Continuous abstinence was associated with a longer duration of MMT, but there was no significant association between abstinence and past-year 12-step meeting attendance or other 12-step-related activities. Surveyed patients reported high rates of past-year 12-step meeting attendance (66%) and high rates of perceived helpfulness of 12-step programs (more than 70%), but they reported lower levels of involvement in key 12-step program ingredients.