Mutual-aid group involvement lowers relapse risk more in early recovery than in later stages

Background Attending mutual-aid is associated with achieving better outcomes in people recovering from addictions. Because recovery becomes more stable over time, the benefits of mutual aid are likely strongest for those in early recovery. Methods A sample of participants (N = 367) in recovery from problematic substance use completed a survey at baseline and then again 1 year later (Time 2; n = 311). Recovery Group Participation Scale (RGPS; Baseline) was median split into “high” and “low” scores, Commitment to Sobriety Scale (Baseline) and relapse (self-report; Time 2) were also collected. Results For those in early recovery, 63% of the low RGPS group reported relapse, compared to 23% of the high RGPS group. Chi squared revealed that this difference was significant for those in early (<1 year) and sustained (1 to 5 years) recovery, but not for those in stable recovery (>5 years). Logistic regression showed that RGPS uniquely predicted the chance of relapse over and above its relationship with commitment to sobriety. Conclusions The study provides evidence that greater involvement in addiction recovery groups is associated with better outcomes for those in earlier stages of recovery and highlights the need for greater availability of and referral to peer support groups, particularly for those in early recovery.