Abstract
Pathways to Recovery is a peerled, 12-step-based, self-help group with spiritual underpinnings that was developed to meet the needs of clients in a Methadone Treatment Program (MTP) based in a large municipal hospital. Pathways is facilitated by staff, but groups are patient-run. Pathways was adapted for the MTP population from our original Methadone Anonymous format because of the need for increased structure and to ensure the inclusion of women participating in substance abuse treatment that is predominantly male. A sample of 26 Pathways participants and a comparison group of 26 MTP clients who did not attend Pathways completed a battery of questionnaires to assess demographic characteristics, substance use, depression, anxiety, spiritual orientation, and 12-step beliefs. Preliminary findings on gender differences are presented.
