These days, there are a shocking number of services that can be accomplished online, which, just a few decades ago, would’ve seemed unfathomable. Like getting an annual check-up, having documents notarized, or working at the front desk of a hotel located on an entirely different continent. Indeed, few industries have escaped at least a portion of what was once a face-to-face interaction, becoming a service that can be completed virtually.
Addiction treatment is no exception. It has become increasingly common for certain aspects of the recovery process to be handled online rather than in person. One of which is the switch to online support meetings, which can include visits with therapists, counselors, and peer groups. And while no one can argue the unrivaled convenience of virtual meeting sessions, anyone who has grappled with drug addiction can tell you that the most convenient option is not always inherently the better one. In-person recovery meetings still have their place in our increasingly tech-centric society and may still be the best option for your recovery journey.
Online vs. In-person recovery meetings: Is one better than the other?
The short answer: sort of. Both online and offline (in-person) meetings provide benefits that support high-level recovery goals and have similar outcomes when measuring rates of abstinence and relapse.
But a study that sought to answer this very question found that the format that’s best for you might boil down to your personal recovery goal and whether you are looking to just reduce your drug consumption as opposed to abstaining for the rest of your life.
Naturally, the primary benefits of virtual recovery meetings are convenience and accessibility. For someone with a physical disability, lacking means of transportation, or requiring child care, attending meetings might be a logistical nightmare (or entirely impossible depending on where they live). Meeting virtually can also provide an extra sense of anonymity, overcoming a common obstacle that might otherwise deter someone from participating in support meetings.
It’s no surprise then that the study found that online meetings were associated with higher attendance rates. The caveat? These participants were less engaged in peer support settings like those of Alcoholics Anonymous, and less likely to have the intention of achieving lifelong sobriety.
Alternatively, though in-person recovery meetings had lower attendance rates, these participants were more likely to be engaged and foster meaningful relationships with others in their mutual help group — and social support is extremely influential during the recovery process.
3 Key benefits of attending recovery meetings in person
Social interaction
Statistically, you and other attendees are more likely to volunteer or contribute to a meeting if you are participating in person. While it may not sound like much, this is a valuable opportunity to practice nonverbal communication cues like maintaining eye contact or monitoring body language, which can translate to helpful skills outside of the addiction recovery space.
Community
A tenet of Alcoholics Anonymous’ philosophy is an emphasis on social support and connection. This has been proven to be a powerful risk reducer and a reliable indicator of treatment success and explains why A.A. is still so prevalent even after 100 years.
Increased likelihood of achieving sobriety goals
Those who attend in-person meetings are more likely to have the goal of lifetime sobriety as opposed to those who attend support meetings online and are more likely to only want to reduce their drug or alcohol consumption. If abstinence is your end goal, you’re more likely to find others with similar goals if you attend meetings in person. Further, another study found that in-person participation is correlated with higher rates of sobriety success than of attending meetings online.
Online isn’t everything: The risk of pursuing convenience
Additional aspects of addiction treatment are likely to be digitalized beyond those of recovery meetings of suboxone treatment. It’s important to consider which method is most likely to provide the level of support and structure that will actually lead to positive outcomes.
Take for example, the addiction treatment program that allows you to come and go as you please and doesn’t disrupt your day-to-day life. You can keep living at home and going to work every day. It’s convenient certainly, but it also means that you must have the self-discipline to create an environment conducive to change — something that a less-flexible program intrinsically provides.
Convenience can seem a tempting option, especially in today’s hustle culture, which values productivity above all else, and comes at the cost of accountability, connection, and community. Attempting to minimize the friction in your recovery journey may inadvertently cause you to miss out on the very thing that separates being technically sober from being genuinely healed.