Preparing Human Services Students for Addiction Practice: Exploring 12-Step Recovery and Community-Based Support Systems

Precarity in addiction treatment underscores the need for undergraduate addiction counselor preparation training that promotes client-centered and anti-stigmatizing approaches. While evidence supports recovery-oriented systems of care and 12-step support groups, experiential and holistic teaching methods remain underexplored. This qualitative study examines the use of 12-step groups as a pedagogical tool in addiction-focused training, revealing themes of student self-reflection and early practitioner development. Findings highlight the cultivation of emotional awareness, recognition of personal biases, and increased understanding of community-based recovery, demonstrating the value of immersive learning in shaping professional identity and community engagement.