Can a 12-step program work in methadone maintenance treatment?

The impact of self-help groups on successful substance use treatment completion for opioid use: An intersectional analysis of race/ethnicity and sex

INTRODUCTION

Race/ethnicity and sex disparities in substance use and substance use treatment completion are well documented in the literature. Previous literature has shown that participation in self-help groups is associated with higher rates of substance use treatment completion. While most of this research has focused on the completion of treatment for alcohol and stimulant use, research examining this relationship using an intersectional approach for individuals in treatment for opioid use is limited.

METHODS

Thus, the current study utilized responses from the Treatment Episodes Data Set-Discharges, 2015-2017 to examine disparities in the relationship between participation in self-help groups and substance use treatment completion for individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use based on sex, race, and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Results revealed a positive association between participation in self-help groups and treatment completion among those in treatment for opioid use across race, ethnicity, and sex. Further, the study found several differences in this association based on one's race, ethnicity, and sex. When compared to men of other races/ethnicities, the association between self-help group participation and treatment completion was highest among Black men.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study extend the knowledge-base about self-help participation's role in promoting successful substance use treatment completion to individuals in treatment for opioid use. Results also highlight the need to examine treatment outcomes with an intersectional lens.

"Here Comes the Junkies," Opioid Replacement Therapy in Rural Australia

BACKGROUND

Opioid replacement therapy (ORT) offers a harm minimization approach and is the mainstay treatment option for opioid dependence in Australia. Recovery is known to be complicated because of service access, cost, workforce availability, privacy, stigma, and discrimination. Rural living is considered to magnify each complication of recovery, yet little is understood about how opioid dependence recovery is experienced in rural Australia. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of people receiving ORT in rural Australia and describe impediments to recovery.

METHODS

In this qualitative study design, all outpatients enrolled in ORT at two rural Australian sites were invited to participate. Six volunteers from each site participated in a semistructured interview (eight men, four women; mean age = 44.8 years).

RESULTS

The participants had completed 3 years of secondary school education on average. Four major themes emerged: reinvention, restriction, employment, and reconnection. Small communities increased the likelihood of ORT participants knowing people both directly and indirectly, affecting their ability to reconstruct an identity. Lived distance from prescribers and dosing points dictated daily activity, including opportunities to seek and maintain employment. Rural ORT treatment seekers indicated that geographical displacement and separation from family, the people they needed to reconnect with, were challenging.

CONCLUSION

Rural people engaged in ORT require positive reinforcement from service providers, enabling identity reinvention and disconnection from the drug-seeking world. Acknowledging underlying trauma and supporting reconnection with loved ones may foster positive social connectedness.

Stigmatization of medications for opioid use disorder in 12-step support groups and participant responses

Background: 12-step groups are the most common approach to managing opioid use disorder (OUD) in the U.S. Medications for OUD (MOUD) are the most effective tool for preventing opioid misuse and relapse. Previous research has identified stigma of MOUD in 12-step groups. Objectives: We sought to identify how MOUD stigma is operationalized in 12-step groups and to identify responses to stigma. Methods: We recruited individuals with both MOUD experience and 12-step group experience from three syringe exchange programs in the U.S. using snowball sampling. We conducted individual telephone semi-structured interviews during 2018 and 2019. We coded data in Dedoose software and conducted thematic analysis using iterative categorization. Results: We recruited 30 individuals meeting our inclusion criteria. The following stigma operationalization methods were identified: prohibiting people using MOUD from speaking at meetings; encouraging shortened duration of MOUD treatment; refusing to sponsor people using MOUD; and refusing to let people using MOUD claim recovery time. Responses to stigma included the following: feeling shame; feeling anger; shopping around for different groups, leaving the group, or forming a new group; not revealing MOUD utilization or only telling a sponsor; speaking out on behalf of MOUD; and using cognitive approaches to avoid stigma internalization. Cognitive approaches included believing that anti-MOUD stigma is contrary to 12-step principles; disregarding statements as inaccurate based on one's experience of MOUD benefits; and accepting that all groups of humans have some ignorant people. Conclusion: Healthcare systems should help address MOUD stigma experienced by patients in 12-step groups, such as by offering non-12-step alternative groups and encouraging MOUD healthcare providers to prepare patients for potential stigma they may face. Some stigma response options, like shopping around for different groups, may not be feasible in rural areas or for participants newer to recovery.

Psychosocial intervention utilization and substance abuse treatment outcomes in a multisite sample of individuals who use opioids

BACKGROUND

There are several relatively safe and effective FDA-approved medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Despite the existence of these medications, the rate of returning to opioid use after treatment is relatively high, underscoring the need for continued enhancement of treatments. Adjunctive psychosocial interventions paired with medication have been shown to improve OUD treatment outcomes. However, studies have yet to conclusively examine the distinct effects of the most widely utilized psychosocial treatment modalities. The current study will investigate the relationship between individual counseling, group therapy, and 12-Step participation and illicit opioid abstinence at the end of treatment, 1 and 3 months after treatment.

METHOD

A secondary analysis was conducted with data from a sample of 570 individuals diagnosed with OUD who were recruited from eight substance abuse treatment centers in the United States. Participants were enrolled in a two-group randomized, controlled trial testing buprenorphine-naloxone versus extended-release naltrexone for OUD. A two-level hierarchical linear growth model was used to examine the effects of individual counseling, group therapy, and 12-Step participation on illicit opioid abstinence (urinanalyses) 1- and 3-months post-treatment.

RESULTS

Hours of individual counseling and 12-Step participation significantly predicted abstinence at follow-up (p < .001, b = -0.59, 95% CI [0.42, 0.74]; p < .01, b = -0.05, 95% CI [0.92, 0.98]). There was a significant interaction between individual counseling and 12-Step participation (p < .01, b = -0.06, 95% CI [1.02, 1.10]). Additionally, participant age and employment status were significant predictors of illicit opioid abstinence (p < .01, b = -0.02, 95% CI [0.97, 0.99]; p < .01, b = -0.38, 95% CI [0.52, 0.90]). Hours of group therapy was not found to significantly predict illicit opioid abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that greater levels of individual therapy and 12-Step participation may be beneficial for individuals receiving medication treatment for OUD.

Drug Abuse and Behavioral Transgressions during Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) are Related to High Psychopathy Levels

Introduction: Studies which used the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients focused mostly on methodological issues, without addressing its relationship to patients' misconduct during treatment. This paper tests the hypothesis that high PCL-R scores are related to high rates of drug abuse, and high numbers of behavioral transgressions in MMT during a 7-year period. Material and Methods: 107 MMT patients were recruited from a MMT clinic in Israel, and were administered the PCL-R. The questionnaires results as well as routine drug test findings were recorded between 7/2007 and 11/2007. Seven years later (7/2014), repeated drug test results were analyzed, and the number of behavioral transgressions during the entire period was computed. Results: High levels of psychopathy were related to drug test results indicating any illicit drug use, cocaine use and benzodiazepines misuse at the beginning of study, and limited to benzodiazepines misuse among patients who stayed in treatment at the 7-year follow-up. However, higher scores on different PCL-R facets were significantly associated with different types of drugs. The PCL-R's total score and all but the antisociality facet were positively correlated with a higher number of behavioral transgressions (such as, threats and/or verbal and physical aggression). Conclusions: Administration of the PCL-R during MMT may help identify patients with high illicit drug use levels and a higher chance of committing behavioral transgressions during treatment.

Building a Group-Based Opioid Treatment (GBOT) blueprint: a qualitative study delineating GBOT implementation

BACKGROUND

Group-Based Opioid Treatment (GBOT) has recently emerged as a mechanism for treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the outpatient setting. However, the more practical "how to" components of successfully delivering GBOT has received little attention in the medical literature, potentially limiting its widespread implementation and utilization. Building on a previous case series, this paper delineates the key components to implementing GBOT by asking: (a) What are the core components to GBOT implementation, and how are they defined? (b) What are the malleable components to GBOT implementation, and what conceptual framework should providers use in determining how to apply these components for effective delivery in their unique clinical environment?

METHODS

To create a blueprint delineating GBOT implementation, we integrated findings from a previously conducted and separately published systematic review of existing GBOT studies, conducted additional literature review, reviewed best practice recommendations and policies related to GBOT and organizational frameworks for implementing health systems change. We triangulated this data with a qualitative thematic analysis from 5 individual interviews and 2 focus groups representing leaders from 5 different GBOT programs across our institution to identify the key components to GBOT implementation, distinguish "core" and "malleable" components, and provide a conceptual framework for considering various options for implementing the malleable components.

RESULTS

We identified 6 core components to GBOT implementation that optimize clinical outcomes, comply with mandatory policies and regulations, ensure patient and staff safety, and promote sustainability in delivery. These included consistent group expectations, team-based approach to care, safe and confidential space, billing compliance, regular monitoring, and regular patient participation. We identified 14 malleable components and developed a novel conceptual framework that providers can apply when deciding how to employ each malleable component that considers empirical, theoretical and practical dimensions.

CONCLUSION

While further research on the effectiveness of GBOT and its individual implementation components is needed, the blueprint outlined here provides an initial framework to help office-based opioid treatment sites implement a successful GBOT approach and hence potentially serve as future study sites to establish efficacy of the model. This blueprint can also be used to continuously monitor how components of GBOT influence treatment outcomes, providing an empirical framework for the ongoing process of refining implementation strategies.

Affiliation to alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous among patients attending an English specialist addiction service

Purpose

Attendance at alcoholics anonymous (AA) or narcotics anonymous (NA) meetings and affiliation with the fellowship has potential benefits for people with alcohol or drug use disorders. This effect is present whether or not the individual attends professional treatment services, but the two process can have a synergistic effect. Limited information exists about the extent to which people attending UK specialist treatment services also attend AA/NA and their views about such attendance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey of 200 consecutive attendees at the specialist treatment service in an English region was conducted between January and April 2018. A measure of past attendance and affiliation with AA/NA (AAAS) and a scale designed to quantify future readiness to attend (Survey of Readiness for Alcoholics Anonymous Participation) were administered and anonymously linked to data supplied to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring Service (NDTMS).

Findings

A minority of the sample had ever attended an AA meeting (31 per cent, n=59) or an NA meeting (41 per cent, n=79), and only 14 per cent (n=27) and 24 per cent (n=45) had attended an AA or NA meeting, respectively, in the past year. Only two variables significantly predicted level of readiness to attend AA or NA in a regression model: attended more AA/NA meetings in the past (ß=0.149, p=0.036) and previous level of participation (AAAS score) (ß=0.409, p < 0.001).

Practical implications

A significant proportion of attendees of a specialist drug and alcohol treatment service had never attended AA/NA, despite many positive views about their potential benefits. Given the established benefits of attending AA/NA meetings and participating in the AA or NA fellowship, these results suggest that professional treatment services should do more to explain the process and challenge preconceived ideas about how they operate.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of any published research that captures the rates of attendance of and participation in both AA and NA groups in a UK-based community treatment sample. These results may therefore provide a baseline for evaluating the impact of interventions to increase attendance/participation, and also provide some insight into the potential barriers to attendance in this population.

Harm reduction drug policy in Israel: what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done?

Abstract

The leading formal drug policy in Israel is the traditional approach of abstinence, probation, and punitive measures based on three main pillars: Enforcement, Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Prevention. However, under the treatment pillar, Israel has adopted a number of harm reduction services, focused mostly on people who use heroin and people who inject drugs. These include Methadone Maintenance Treatment, Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment, and Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs. More specialized services are designated mostly for people who use drugs, who frequent the largest open drug scene in Tel-Aviv. These include a health clinic, an emergency apartment for female addict sex-workers, and a ‘First Step’ center. Even so, the harm reduction approach has remained controversial, stigmatized, and is considered a sub-category for total-abstinence treatment in Israel. This paper follows the evolution of harm reduction interventions in Israel among people who use drugs and sheds light on the lack of a comprehensive, well-planned, formal national harm reduction drug policy. Additionally, this article expresses concern over the uncertain future of Israel’s comprehensive and balanced drug treatment policies caused by the structural changes in abolishing the Israel Anti-Drug Authority, the statutory authority and central body in Israel that promoted and coordinated all national policies related to treatment and harm reduction.

Conclusions

Although it is a major challenge to translate worldwide evidence and research findings into action and social change, recommendations are offered to implement a comprehensive harm reduction drug policy led by a multidisciplinary group of policy-makers across all areas of drug policy. These focus on expanding and developing more services for Opioid Maintenance Therapy patients and people who inject drugs as well as a national effort to reduce high levels of stigma and discrimination against them, encompassing other common substances and focusing on populations such as adolescents and young adults that engage in other types of substance use such as cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants, and hallucinogens.

Correlates of Opioid Abstinence in a 42-Month Posttreatment Naturalistic Follow-Up Study of Prescription Opioid Dependence

OBJECTIVE

The natural course of prescription opioid use disorder has not been examined in longitudinal studies. The current study examined correlates of opioid abstinence over time after completion of a treatment trial for prescription opioid dependence.

METHODS

The multisite Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study examined different durations of buprenorphine-naloxone treatment and different intensities of counseling to treat prescription opioid dependence, as assessed by DSM-IV; following the clinical trial, a longitudinal study was conducted from March 2009-January 2013. At 18, 30, and 42 months after treatment entry, telephone interviews were conducted (N = 375). In this exploratory, naturalistic study, logistic regression analyses examined the association between treatment modality (including formal treatment and mutual help) and opioid abstinence rates at the follow-up assessments.

RESULTS

At the 3 follow-up assessments, approximately half of the participants reported engaging in current substance use disorder treatment (47%-50%). The most common treatments were buprenorphine maintenance (27%-35%) and mutual-help group attendance (27%-30%), followed by outpatient counseling (18%-23%) and methadone maintenance (4%). In adjusted analyses, current opioid agonist treatment showed the strongest association with current opioid abstinence (odds ratios [ORs] = 5.4, 4.6, and 2.8 at the 3 assessments), followed by current mutual-help attendance (ORs = 2.2, 2.7, and 1.9); current outpatient counseling was not significantly associated with abstinence in the adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

While opioid agonist treatment was most strongly associated with opioid abstinence among patients with prescription opioid dependence over time, mutual-help group attendance was independently associated with opioid abstinence. Clinicians should consider recommending both of these interventions to patients with opioid use disorder.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00316277​.

Spiritual Criminology: The Case of Jewish Criminology

Throughout the ages and in most cultures, spiritual and religious thinking have dealt extensively with offending (person against person and person against the Divine), the response to offending, and rehabilitation of offenders. Although modern criminology has generally overlooked that body of knowledge and experience, the study of spirituality and its relation to criminology is currently growing. Frequently, though, it is conducted from the secular scientific perspective, thus reducing spiritual knowledge into what is already known. Our aim here is to present a complementary perspective; that is, spiritual criminology that emerges from the spiritual perspective. Following a description of the state-of-the-art in criminological research concerning spirituality and its impact upon individuals, we focus on Jewish criminology as an illustrative case study, and present a spiritual Jewish view on good and evil, including factors that lead to criminality, the issue of free choice, the aim of punishment and societal response, crime desistance, rehabilitation, and prevention. The proposed establishment of spiritual criminology can be further developed by including parallel schools of spirituality, to create an integrated field in criminology.

Psychosocial interventions in opiate substitution treatment services: does the evidence provide a case for optimism or nihilism?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Clinical guidelines from around the world recommend the delivery of psychosocial interventions as part of routine care in opiate substitution treatment (OST) programmes. However, although individual studies demonstrate benefit for structured psychosocial interventions, meta-analytical reviews find no benefit for manual-based treatments beyond 'routine counselling'.

ANALYSIS

We consider the question of whether OST medication alone is sufficient to produce the required outcomes, or whether greater efforts should be made to provide high-quality psychosocial treatment alongside medication. In so doing, we consider the nuances and limitations of the evidence and the organizational barriers to transferring it into routine practice.

CONCLUSION

The evidence base for psychosocial interventions in opiate substitution treatment (OST) services can be interpreted both positively and negatively. Steering a path between overly optimistic or nihilistic interpretations of the value of psychosocial treatment in OST programmes is the most pragmatic approach. Greater attention should be paid to elements common to all psychological treatments (such as therapeutic alliance), but also to the sequencing and packaging of psychosocial elements and their linkage to peer-led interventions.

"Don't Judge a Book Its Cover": A Qualitative Study of Methadone Patients' Experiences of Stigma

INTRODUCTION

Despite its efficacy and widespread use, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) continues to be widely stigmatized. Reducing the stigma surrounding MMT will help improve the accessibility, retention, and treatment outcomes in MMT.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing MMT. Thematic content analysis was used to identify overarching themes.

RESULTS

In total, 78% of participants reported having experienced stigma surrounding MMT. Common stereotypes associated with MMT patients included the following: methadone as a way to get high, incompetence, untrustworthiness, lack of willpower, and heroin junkies. Participants reported that stigma resulted in lower self-esteem; relationship conflicts; reluctance to initiate, access, or continue MMT; and distrust toward the health care system. Public awareness campaigns, education of health care workers, family therapy, and community meetings were cited as potential stigma-reduction strategies.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Stigma is a widespread and serious issue that adversely affects MMT patients' quality of life and treatment. More efforts are needed to combat MMT-related stigma.

Clinician recommendation of 12-step meeting attendance and discussion regarding disclosure of buprenorphine use among patients in office-based opioid treatment

BACKGROUND

Clinicians are encouraged to include 12-step meetings, such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA), as ancillary services for the treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs), even though some of these groups may not fully accept individuals receiving buprenorphine. Little is known about whether clinicians actually discuss with patients the issue of disclosure of buprenorphine use at 12-step meetings.

METHODS

An anonymous survey was offered to patients enrolled in office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine to assess whether their clinicians recommended attendance at 12-step meetings and discussed the issue of disclosing their use of buprenorphine to other members. The patients' attendance at 12-step meetings was also assessed, as well as beliefs and prior experiences related to disclosure of buprenorphine use at 12-step meetings.

RESULTS

Thirty patients completed the survey. Twenty-one respondents (75.0%) indicated that they were encouraged to attend meetings, but only 9 (33.3%) reported having any discussion with their clinicians about the issue of disclosing their use of buprenorphine at meetings. The majority (76.7%) reported attending 12-step meetings at least occasionally, and 70% reported finding the meetings helpful. Nearly one third (30%) expressed concerns that other 12-step members would not accept them if their buprenorphine status were known, and a similar proportion (37%) frequently avoided disclosing their use of buprenorphine.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians recommended 12-step meetings to most patients but did not routinely discuss issues of disclosure. Despite utilizing 12-step meetings and reporting them to be helpful, many avoided disclosing their use of buprenorphine to others. More research is needed to better understand how clinicians may assist patients to best utilize 12-step meetings.

Buprenorphine Treatment and 12-step Meeting Attendance: Conflicts, Compatibilities, and Patient Outcomes

This analysis examines patient experiences and outcomes with 12-step recovery group attendance during buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT), two approaches with traditionally divergent philosophies regarding opioid medications for treatment of opioid use disorder. Using quantitative (n = 300) and qualitative (n = 20) data collected during a randomized trial of counseling services in buprenorphine treatment, this mixed-methods analysis of African Americans in BMT finds the number of NA meetings attended in the prior 6 months was associated with a higher rate of retention in BMT (p < .001) and heroin/cocaine abstinence at 6 month follow-up (p = .005). However, patients whose counselors required them to attend 12-step meetings did not have better outcomes than patients not required to attend such meetings. Qualitative narratives highlighted patients' strategies for managing dissonant viewpoints on BMT and disclosing BMT status in community 12-step meetings. Twelve-step meeting attendance is associated with better outcomes for BMT patients over the first 6 months of treatment. However, there is no benefit to requiring meeting attendance as a condition of treatment, and clinicians should be aware of potential philosophical conflicts between 12-step and BMT approaches.

Improving psychosocial health and employment outcomes for individuals receiving methadone treatment: a realist synthesis of what makes interventions work

BACKGROUND

For over 50 years, methadone has been prescribed to opioid-dependent individuals as a pharmacological approach for alleviating the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. However, individuals prescribed methadone sometimes require additional interventions (e.g., counseling) to further improve their health. This study undertook a realist synthesis of evaluations of interventions aimed at improving the psychosocial and employment outcomes of individuals on methadone treatment, to determine what interventions work (or not) and why.

METHODS

The realist synthesis method was utilized because it uncovers the processes (or mechanisms) that lead to particular outcomes, and the contexts within which this occurs. A comprehensive search process resulted in 31 articles for review. Data were extracted from the articles, and placed in four templates to assist with analysis. Data analysis was an iterative process and involved comparing and contrasting data within and across each template, and cross checking with original articles to determine key patterns in the data.

RESULTS

For individuals on methadone, engagement with an intervention appears to be important for improved psychosocial and/or employment outcomes. The engagement process involves attendance at interventions as well as an investment in what is offered. Three intervention contexts (often in some combination) support the engagement process: a) client-centered contexts (or those where clients' psychosocial and/or employment needs/issues/skills are recognized and/or addressed); b) contexts which address clients' socio-economic conditions and needs; and, c) contexts where there are positive client-counselor and/or peer relationships. There is some evidence that sometimes ongoing engagement is necessary to maintain positive outcomes. There is also some evidence that complete abstinence from drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin) is not necessary for engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to consider how the contexts of interventions might elicit and/or support clients' engagement. Further research is needed to explore how an individual's background (e.g., involvement with different interventions over an extended period) may influence engagement. Long-term engagement may be necessary to sustain some positive outcomes although how long is unclear and requires further research. Engagement can occur without complete abstinence from such drugs as cocaine or heroin, but additional research is required as engagement may be influenced by the extent and type of drug use.

Impact of research network participation on the adoption of buprenorphine for substance abuse treatment

There is a growing body of research supporting the use of buprenorphine and other medication assisted treatments (MATs) for the rapidly accelerating opioid epidemic in the United States. Despite numerous advantages of buprenorphine (accessible in primary care, no daily dosing required, minimal stigma), implementation has been slow. As the field progresses, there is a need to understand the impact of participation in practitioner-scientist research networks on acceptance and uptake of buprenorphine. This paper examines the impact of research network participation on counselor attitudes toward buprenorphine addressing both counselor-level characteristics and program-level variables using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to account for nesting of counselors within treatment programs. Using data from the National Treatment Center Study, this project compares privately funded treatment programs (N=345) versus programs affiliated with the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (CTN) (N=198). Models included 922 counselors in 172 CTN programs and 1203 counselors in 251 private programs. Results of two-level HLM logistic (Bernoulli) models revealed that counselors with higher levels of education, larger caseloads, more buprenorphine-specific training, and less preference for 12-step treatment models were more likely to perceive buprenorphine as acceptable and effective. Furthermore, buprenorphine was 50% more likely to be perceived as effective among counselors working in CTN-affiliated programs as compared to private programs. This study suggests that research network affiliation positively impacts counselors' acceptance and perceptions of buprenorphine. Thus, research network participation can be utilized as a means to promote positive attitudes toward the implementation of innovations including medication assisted treatment.

Dually diagnosed patients' benefits of mutual-help groups and the role of social anxiety

There is debate about whether dually diagnosed patients benefit from mutual-help groups (MHGs), partly because social anxiety may make participation problematic. We examined dually diagnosed patients' participation in MHGs and outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months post-treatment, and the extent to which social anxiety was associated with participation. We also examined whether MHG participation and social anxiety were related to outcomes, and whether social anxiety moderated associations between participation and outcomes. We found high rates of MHG participation. Among patients who attended at least one meeting, outcomes were positive. Social anxiety was not associated with levels of MHG participation, but more participation was associated with better outcomes. When social anxiety moderated associations between MHG participation and outcomes, patients with more social anxiety benefited more from participation. Treated dually diagnosed patients participate in, and benefit from, MHGs, and participation and benefits are comparable, or even strengthened, among more socially-anxious patients.