Finding Support Groups: AA, NA, SMART Recovery
If you are looking for support during recovery, finding support groups in your area is an essential step. There are several types of support groups available not just for individuals who are recovering but for their friends and family.
Local Support Groups: Your Main Options
The most well-known groups are NA and AA, both of which use 12-step programs for recovery. In these programs, you move back and forth through the steps as you progress with the help of a sponsor. These programs are heavily centered on Christian concepts, and they require acknowledgment of powerlessness when it comes to addiction.
When you are looking for supportive groups, SMART Recovery is a popular alternative to NA or AA meetings. SMART stands for “Self-Management and Recovery Training” and teaches individuals struggling with addiction how to control cravings by focusing on the feelings and thoughts that prompt them. This is a secular alternative that focuses more on self-empowerment.
What is NA/AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are worldwide organizations that help people with substance abuse support one another. The organization was founded in 1935 and focuses on a 12-step program where individuals have to move through the steps in order.
Originally, this was founded on the principles of a Christian self-help group. Participants acknowledge that addiction is a disease and that it’s something outside of their control. They follow the 12 steps by admitting their powerlessness and submitting to a higher power. The group offers reliable support with private meetings, and each individual is given a sponsor, someone who has maintained their sobriety and been a part of the program for a minimum of a few years. This helps keep them connected and accountable.
What is SMART Recovery?
The SMART program is recognized as an effective tool for those who want to maintain long-term recovery with ongoing local support groups. This program is divided into different levels, so to speak, but individuals don’t have to tackle them in any specific order.
Finding Support Groups
If you are interested in an AA meeting, their website lets you pick listing locations in the United States and internationally. They are divided by state, after which you get contact information and websites for local areas.
The AA website does not have a meeting finder. Instead, you use the contact information for local AA resources, and when you click on their websites or call them, you can find a meeting list in that location and nearby areas.
The NA website lets you search across the United States or internationally based on state or area code. However, once you refine your results, it does not provide you with a list of meeting locations. Instead, it provides the phone number and website of the main regions in that state you can contact to get information about local support groups.
Finding SMART Recovery Groups
If you are interested in SMART Recovery supportive groups, you can join meetings by using their “Find a SMART Meeting” option online.
All you need to do is type in your city, state, or province, and it will take you to a list of available meetings. From there, you can filter the results by:
- Distance
- Program type
- Audience
- Type (online or in person)
- Language
- Verifications
Connecting to Support Groups with Ritual Recovery
When you reach out to Ritual Recovery to start your program, a big part of any treatment plan involves participation in support groups. As you move through your individual recovery program at our outpatient drug rehab in Asheville, you’ll be introduced to support groups on-site where you can familiarize yourself with the different programs available to you. You can learn more about their similarities and differences and what you would prefer to continue with after you transition back to your daily life.
Our trusted drug rehab in North Carolina helps you connect with local support groups so that you can find resources near you that will continue to support your long-term sobriety.
Support groups can be found just about anywhere, giving an opportunity for individuals in recovery to continually connect with a network of individuals who understand what they’re going through.If you are ready to learn more about connecting to local support groups or would like to learn more about our substance abuse treatment in North Carolina, call our team today.
