The Meaning and Function of Twelve-Step Mutual-Help Groups During Recovery: A 10-Year Qualitative Follow-Up of Persons Treated for Substance Use Problems in Sweden

Background

Twelve-step treatment for substance use problems is a commonly employed intervention in both international and Swedish contexts. An advantage of twelve-step treatment is the possibility of continuing support for the recovery process through participation in mutual-help groups such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous also after a time-limited intervention. Despite the long-standing establishment of twelve-step-based interventions in Sweden, limited knowledge remains regarding long-term perspectives of recovery processes, particularly with respect to first-person experiences. In the present article, the first-person experiences of the meaning and function of twelve-step-based mutual-help groups for long-term recovery are investigated.