12 step programs don’t help people with opioid addiction?  Is that true?

I recently heard this topic from the field, and thought I would add my thoughts here about that question in the form of suggestions. Back in 2020 I posted something similar titled, Addiction Counselors Should Become Familiar with “Recovery”. But that was general to all addiction treatment patients, and recovery in general.

Here is my list of suggestions to help address the questions found in the title of this post.

If one wanted some evidence from other sources on this topic, one could:

1. Attend an open Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting
2. Listen to the NA in Iran podcast
3. Read the NA Basic Text
4. Read NA’s book titled, “Living Clean:  The Journey Continues”
5. Read NA’s book titled, “Guiding Principles:  The Spirit of Our Traditions”
6. Look over the NA website
7. Talk with some NA members and have them share their experience, strength, and hope
8. Listen to the history of the formation of NA from the “Preserving the Message” YouTube channel. 
9. Listen to the history of the NA Basic Text from the “Preserving the Message” YouTube channel. 
10. Learn about the Narcotic Farm, “Dr Tom”, and related history related to origins and influences upon 12 step mutual aid for people with addiction
11. Use the “Preserving the Message” website 
12. Become familiar with Drug Addicts Anonymous (DAA)
13. Attend an open DAA meeting
14. Look over the DAA website
15. Read the free DAA document from their website titled, “For Professionals Working with Drug Addicts” 
16. Talk with some DAA members and have them share their experience, strength, and hope
17. Talk with some DAA members about this idea and get their input
18. Ask some NA and DAA members about the idea that 12 step programs are not effective for people with opioid addictions, and get their input
19. Become familiar with Heroin Anonymous:  attend an open Heroin Anonymous meeting, look over their website, talk with some of their members. 
20. Talk with some Heroin Anonymous members and have them share their experience, strength, and hope
21. Get to know people working a recovery program in AA who have “another problem” that is opiate addiction.
22. Become familiar with Methadone Anonymous and read its history
23. Become familiar with AFIRM (the Advocates for the Integration of Recovery and Methadone) and read its history
24. Look over the Congress 60 website
25. Read the history of Congress 60
26. Become familiar with Congress 60
27. Read “From Healing to Hell:  A memoir by William Henry Wall, Jr., DDS”
28. Read about methadone and the anti-medication bias in addiction treatment, by William White and Brian Coon (2003)
29. Talk with someone who founded and operated a buprenorphine IOP specific for people with opioid use disorders only, or such a patient, or both.
30. Read about “recovery-oriented methadone maintenance”
31. Read the “Recovery Oriented Methadone Maintenance” monograph by William White and Lisa Mojer-Torres (2010)
32. Read the Interview of William White by Stephen Bamber (2011)
33. Talk with someone who works in, or has worked in, a recovery-oriented methadone maintenance program for several years, or such a patient, or both.
34. Talk with someone who works in, or has worked in. a recovery-oriented opioid maintenance therapy program for several years (e.g. buprenorphine clinic or office-based such as private practice or FQHC), or such a patient, or both.

Suggested Reading

Peer Support, or Harm Reduction, or Recovery Coaching?

Coaching Tips for System Change and Recovery Orientation

Choice in addiction treatment: A little more. Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance?