Thank you for your interest in our research study! We are recruiting addiction treatment providers from a 10-county area in Western Pennsylvania (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland). Eligible participants include clinic directors and treatment providers (inpatient, outpatient, residential, peer support staff, etc.). The study involves an online survey lasting approximately 10 minutes and a follow-up survey two months later.
Background:
COVID-19 has reduced reliable access to in-person recovery groups like Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. Online recovery groups have grown in popularity, and these may be beneficial for individuals who are unable or unlikely to attend in-person/video meetings. However, little is known about the scope and characteristics of many online groups (privacy considerations, activity level and responsiveness, substance specific vs. polysubstance, spiritual vs. secular, gender specific). In response, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are currently developing a comprehensive resource guide for online recovery groups to help inform decision making about what groups might be suitable for different types of people. We hope that this will be a useful resource for clinicians and individuals who are in recovery.
We are seeking feedback from addiction treatment providers so that resources can be developed in a way that is useful for clinicians and individuals who are in recovery. As part of this project, we are recruiting regional clinical directors and clinicians to participate in brief online surveys to provide feedback about these resources. No previous knowledge about online support groups is necessary, and participation is entirely voluntary. Resources will be freely available on our project website. This project is funded by the Staunton Farm Foundation and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Behavioral Health, Media, and Technology.