After exploring various group treatment approaches, the program has successfully developed and sustained 11 weekly drop- in support groups that address early recovery, relapse prevention, and issues related to HIV. This paper emphasizes how assessing and possessing an in-depth understanding of client needs is a prerequisite to planning and conducting successful group treatment. It also suggests that maintaining abstinence in recovery from chemical dependency and preventing relapse are critical to the management of HIV infection as a chronic illness. This group model is an outgrowth of ongoing work at Gouverneur Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Ryan White Mental Health Linkage Program in New York City. In addition to describing group structure and characteristics, this paper also briefly discusses staff issues. The program has found that a peer process group for co-leaders of the groups has been important. The staff meets weekly for 1 hour to review the week's work. 7 references