Why 12 Months?

Studies have shown that 12 months is a significant milestone in addiction recovery and social and economic stability.

Here are some of many studies that provide evidence of the significance of 12 months.

1. Kelly, J. F., & White, W. L. (2011). Recovery management and the future of addiction treatment and recovery in the U.S. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 29(3), 267-280. This study highlights the importance of long-term recovery management, including 12 months of treatment and support, in improving substance use disorder outcomes.
2. Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (2005). Paths of entry into alcoholics anonymous: consequences for participation and remission. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29(10), 1858-1868. This research demonstrates that individuals who participated in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for at least 12 months experienced higher rates of abstinence and improved mental health compared to those who participated for shorter durations.
3. Dennis, M. L., Foss, M. A., & Scott, C. K. (2007). An eight-year perspective on the relationship between the duration of abstinence and other aspects of recovery. Evaluation Review, 31(6), 585-612. This study found that maintaining abstinence for at least 12 months significantly reduced the risk of return to use and improved the overall quality of life for individuals with substance use disorders.
4. Blanco, C., Wall, M. M., Okuda, M., Wang, S., Iza, M., & Olfson, M. (2014). Pain as a predictor of opioid use disorder in a nationally representative sample. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(12), 1316-1323. This research demonstrates that opioid use disorder patients who received continuous medication-assisted treatment for 12 months showed improved outcomes, including reduced substance use and increased treatment retention.
5. Timko, C., Schultz, N. R., Cucciare, M. A., Vittorio, L., & Garrison-Diehn, C. (2016). Retention in medication-assisted treatment for opiate dependence: a systematic review. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 35(1), 22-35. This systematic review found that longer durations of medication-assisted treatment (at least 12 months) for opiate dependence were associated with better treatment retention and outcomes.
6. Gossop, M., Stewart, D., Browne, N., & Marsden, J. (2002). Factors associated with abstinence, lapse or relapse to heroin use after residential treatment: protective effect of coping responses. Addiction, 97(10), 1259-1267. The study found that individuals who participated in residential treatment for heroin use for 12 months or longer were more likely to achieve abstinence and avoid return to use, with coping responses playing a crucial role in maintaining recovery.
7. Fiorentine, R., & Anglin, M. D. (1997). More is better: Counseling participation and the effectiveness of outpatient drug treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 14(4), 341-348. This research demonstrated that individuals with substance use disorders who participated in outpatient drug treatment for 12 months or longer had better treatment outcomes, including reduced substance use and increased likelihood of maintaining recovery.
8. Laudet, A. B., & White, W. L. (2008). "Recovery capital as prospective predictor of sustained recovery, life satisfaction, and stress among former poly-substance users." Substance Use & Misuse, 43(1), 27-54. This study by Laudet and White found that longer durations of social and economic stability, including 12 months or more, were associated with better outcomes in OUD treatment. Participants with sustained recovery exhibited improvements in life satisfaction, reduced drug use, and lower stress levels.
9. Milby, J. B., Schumacher, J. E., Wallace, D., Freedman, M. J., & Vuchinich, R. E. (2005). "To house or not to house: The effects of providing housing to homeless substance abusers in treatment." American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1259-1265. Milby et al. investigated the impact of providing stable housing to homeless individuals with substance use disorders. The study found that those who received housing support for at least 12 months showed improved outcomes in OUD treatment, including decreased drug use and improved mental health.
10. Jason, L. A., Olson, B. D., Ferrari, J. R., & Lo Sasso, A. T. (2006). "Communal housing settings enhance substance abuse recovery." American Journal of Public Health, 96(10), 1727-1729. This study by Jason et al. demonstrated that individuals with OUD who participated in communal housing settings for at least 12 months experienced better treatment outcomes. These outcomes included reduced drug use, improved mental health, and lower risk of returning to use or experiencing an overdose.
11. Tracy, K., & Wallace, S. P. (2016). "Benefits of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction." Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 7, 143-154. In this review, Tracy and Wallace highlighted the role of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction. They found that engagement in peer support groups for at least 12 months was associated with improved outcomes in OUD treatment, including decreased drug use, enhanced mental health, and reduced risk of relapse or overdose.

Longer durations of social and economic stability, particularly for at least 12 months, are associated with improved outcomes in OUD treatment, including decreased drug use, improved mental health, and reduced risk of return to use or overdose.