TY - JOUR
KW - 12-Step
KW - buprenorphine
KW - medication treatment
KW - opioid use disorders
KW - Overdose prevention
KW - Peer support
KW - self-help
KW - Stigma
AU - Noa Krawczyk
AU - Tianna Negron
AU - Maia Nieto
AU - Deborah Agus
AU - Michael I. Fingerhood
A1 - 
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.
AD - a Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; b Behavioral Health Leadership Institute , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; a Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; a Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; a Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; b Behavioral Health Leadership Institute , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; a Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; c Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
BT - Substance abuse
C5 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use
CY - United States
DO - 10.1080/08897077.2018.1439798
JF - Substance abuse
LA - eng
M1 - Journal Article
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.
PP - United States
PY - 2018
SN - 1547-0164; 0889-7077
SP - 1
EP - 6
EP - 
T1 - Overcoming medication stigma in peer recovery: A new paradigm
T2 - Substance abuse
TI - Overcoming medication stigma in peer recovery: A new paradigm
U1 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use
U2 - 29432086
U3 - 10.1080/08897077.2018.1439798
VO - 1547-0164; 0889-7077
Y1 - 2018
Y2 - Feb 12
ER -