Abstract
Although 12-step participation is related to improved outcomes, young people’s 12-step involvement is rare. There is limited research on the role of 12-step philosophy and practices for supporting young people’s recovery or addressing why so few engage in 12-step practices. To explore these issues, content analysis was applied to qualitative data from two prior studies conducted with individuals who participated in an Alternative Peer Group (APG), a 12-step facilitated adolescent recovery support model. Findings revealed new information on barriers to 12-step involvement and suggest strategies for addressing barriers, boosting motivation, and changing young people’s perceptions of 12-step philosophy and practices.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the clients and staff of Teen and Family Services, the APG in which the two original studies were completed. Without their welcome and generosity in sharing their stories, this research would not have been possible.
Disclosure statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.