The most cost-effective alternatives to drug and alcohol treatment centers and methadone services are the community-based 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Recent studies have consistently indicated that 12-step programs are effective in helping addicts maintain abstinence. Having a sponsor and becoming a sponsor after some years of abstinence are highly encouraged by NA and AA. Few studies have examined the role of community-based 12-step programs in a community-at-large injection drug-using population. This investigation is based on surveys given every 6 months to 503 participants in the Social Affiliations in Injectors’ Lives study (SAIL). To evaluate the impact of 12-step sponsorship, participants in the SAIL study were classified at baseline into four groups for analyses: not currently participating in NA or AA; not sponsored; sponsored; and sponsors. Findings indicate that having a sponsor in NA/AA for this population was not associated with any improvement in 1 year sustained abstinence rates than a non-sponsored group. Being a sponsor over the same time period was strongly associated with substantial improvements in sustained abstinence rates for the sponsors, controlling for involvement with community organizations, NA/AA meeting attendance, marital status, employment, participation in drug and alcohol treatment centers, and HIV status. Involvement in community organizations was also strongly associated with successful abstinence, controlling for the same variables. More than half of those participants involved with community organizations reported involvement in church activities. The results suggest that, for NA/AA sponsors in this study population, providing direction and support to other addicts is associated with improved success in sustained abstinence for the sponsors but does little to improve the short-term success of the persons being sponsored. 3 tables, 58 references