How Individuals Seeking Help for Substance Use Disorder Adjusted to Virtual 12-Step Meetings During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Technology-based online support services are emerging as a resource for people recovering from substance abuse. This study presents findings on how individuals seeking help for a substance use disorder through 12-step fellowship meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous) adjusted to virtual rather than in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty individuals (50) were interviewed, recruited primarily from 12-step meetings in 3 locations in a rural New England state in the United States. Subjects were asked about whether they had attended virtual meetings during the pandemic, how online meetings compare to in-person meetings, and if they encountered any obstacles when attending virtual meetings (eg, Internet connectivity). More individuals preferred in-person meetings for a variety of reasons, although many participants were willing to give virtual meetings a try. Some participants continued to attend virtual meetings, even after in-person meetings returned. Positives of virtual recovery meetings included convenience and the fact that they could be accessed from anywhere. Internet connectivity and technical difficulties presented a challenge for some. Some individuals were unable to focus in virtual meetings and got easily distracted. Digital recovery support services should continue to be offered as some recovering individuals find them helpful. Virtual meetings are a resource, particularly for those individuals living in rural areas without many in-person resources readily available, or access to adequate transportation. Treatment providers working in rural states may consider advocating to policymakers for quality Internet services (eg, high-speed broadband access), to sufficiently meet residents' treatment and other healthcare needs.