TY - JOUR
T1 - Overcoming medication stigma in peer recovery
T2 - A new paradigm
AU - Krawczyk, Noa
AU - Negron, Tianna
AU - Nieto, Maia
AU - Agus, Deborah
AU - Fingerhood, Michael I.
N1 - Funding Information:
for the AIM project and research was provided by the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund and by Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore (grant no. 16-114-5704-000). Noa Krawczyk received support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse Training Grant T32-DA007293 (Principal Investigator: Renee Johnson). The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors would like to thank William Jones, Tina P. Jones, and Coriless Jones for their efforts in the development and operation of the AIM recovery group and their constant dedication to Dee's Place clients.
Funding Information:
Funding for the AIM project and research was provided by the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund and by Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore (grant no. 16-114-5704-000). Noa Krawczyk received support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse Training Grant T32-DA007293 (Principal Investigator: Renee Johnson). The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2018/10/2
Y1 - 2018/10/2
N2 - Background: Treatment for opioid use disorder involving opioid-based pharmacotherapies is considered most effective when accompanied by psychosocial interventions. Peer-led support groups are widely available and have been described by many as fundamental to the recovery process. However, some individuals using medications face stigma in these settings, which can be contradictory and counterproductive to their recovery. Methods: This paper describes the development of the “Ability, Inspiration and Motivation” or “AIM” group, an alternative peer support group that aims to remove medication stigma from peer recovery. Qualitative interviews with staff, peers, and clients of a community-based buprenorphine treatment program were used to establish the core components of the curriculum to support client needs. Results: Staff, peers, and clients of the buprenorphine program indicated a need and desire to establish a peer recovery group that recognizes persons on medication as being in recovery and destigmatizes use of medication to treat opioid addiction. A respectful environment, holistic perspective on health, spirituality, sharing, and celebration were all established as necessary pillars of the AIM group curriculum. Conclusions: The community-based effort to establish and develop the AIM group demonstrates that combining the strengths of a peer support with evidence-based medication treatment is both possible and desirable. Shifting the culture of peer recovery groups to support the use of medications may have implications for improving treatment retention and should be considered as a potential strategy to reduce the burden of the opioid epidemic.
AB - Background: Treatment for opioid use disorder involving opioid-based pharmacotherapies is considered most effective when accompanied by psychosocial interventions. Peer-led support groups are widely available and have been described by many as fundamental to the recovery process. However, some individuals using medications face stigma in these settings, which can be contradictory and counterproductive to their recovery. Methods: This paper describes the development of the “Ability, Inspiration and Motivation” or “AIM” group, an alternative peer support group that aims to remove medication stigma from peer recovery. Qualitative interviews with staff, peers, and clients of a community-based buprenorphine treatment program were used to establish the core components of the curriculum to support client needs. Results: Staff, peers, and clients of the buprenorphine program indicated a need and desire to establish a peer recovery group that recognizes persons on medication as being in recovery and destigmatizes use of medication to treat opioid addiction. A respectful environment, holistic perspective on health, spirituality, sharing, and celebration were all established as necessary pillars of the AIM group curriculum. Conclusions: The community-based effort to establish and develop the AIM group demonstrates that combining the strengths of a peer support with evidence-based medication treatment is both possible and desirable. Shifting the culture of peer recovery groups to support the use of medications may have implications for improving treatment retention and should be considered as a potential strategy to reduce the burden of the opioid epidemic.
KW - 12-step
KW - Buprenorphine
KW - medication treatment
KW - opioid use disorders
KW - overdose prevention
KW - peer support
KW - self-help
KW - stigma
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044923526&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08897077.2018.1439798
DO - 10.1080/08897077.2018.1439798
M3 - Article
C2 - 29432086
AN - SCOPUS:85044923526
SN - 0889-7077
VL - 39
SP - 404
EP - 409
JO - Substance Abuse
JF - Substance Abuse
IS - 4
ER -