Drug Rehab Support Groups in the United States
Drug Rehab Support Groups in the United States
The terms drug rehab support groups or addiction recovery groups (or other similar names) all refer to voluntary associations or networks of people who share a common desire to overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol. Support groups also exist for many other addictive behaviors such as gambling, overeating, and sex addiction. In any city, you can find support groups for those afflicted with illnesses including cancer and HIV/AIDS, groups focused on helping victims of crime and sexual abuse, and groups organized to help people that have been dealt terrible losses such as the death of a friend or family member.
When it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, drug rehab support groups play a significant role in helping people deal with their addiction issues. The programs and meetings offered by these groups can be (and often are) integrated into an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. But they also exist entirely independent of a rehab facility. They can play a significant role in aftercare services provided by rehab centers so as to keep a former addict or alcoholic connected to a network of sober friends and like-minded individuals.
The Value of Rehab Support Groups
These networks can provide a backbone of support the person can turn to on a routine basis and also in times of distress.
Just going to regular meetings can provide the necessary structure for someone who is counting their days of sobriety. As they attend meetings or meet with a sponsor or counselor, they build a foundation for remaining free from drug or alcohol abuse. If they relapse, they can still communicate with the same people for a non-judgmental discussion. Rather than reeling from guilt, they can take an honest assessment of where they went off track and why deal with those issues and “reset the clock.”
Even people who have to travel can locate rehab support groups in other cities to maintain needed support.
There are some different types of drug and alcohol addiction support groups all over the country and indeed all over the world. If you are looking for a specific one and cannot find it in your city, you can always form a chapter yourself. This can also be an answer if you live in a small town or remote area. Even two people can comprise a group. There are also online support groups you can join.
Different Types of Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most common support group and has been around since 1935. It has chapters (fellowships) all over the country and the world. The core program of AA is based on the Twelve Steps developed by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith (known as Bill W. and Dr. Bob). Anyone struggling with alcohol problems can join or sit in on an AA meeting. In keeping with the philosophy of anonymity in AA, no one attending needs to give their full name.
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a sister organization to AA and applies the Twelve Step program to drug addiction.
The original idea behind the Twelve Steps was to reach even the most “hopeless” alcoholics by identifying with that very feeling of powerlessness that many experience. The Twelve Steps is non-denominational but contains the concept of God or a higher power and prayer or meditation. Included are steps where the individual makes amends to those he or she has wronged.
Secular (non-spiritual or non-religious) versions of the Twelve Steps also exist.
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon
It is estimated that one in ten children in America has a parent that is an alcoholic. Al-Anon and Narc-Anon are associate groups of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous respectively.
The purpose of these groups is to provide guidance and support for the families of alcoholics and drug addicts.
The full name for Al-Anon is Al-Anon Family Groups. Within this structure is Alateen, a support group specifically for teens who have been affected by alcoholism in their families.
Nar-Anon also includes Narateen which supports teens affected by drug abuse in their families.
The families of alcoholics and drug addicts need guidance. The turmoil and strife can be too much to attempt to bear alone. Children are profoundly affected in many ways when a parent or other family member is abusing drugs or alcohol. For one, they can try to emulate the parent or sibling and use drugs themselves and even become addicts.
It is understandable that a child would be upset when drug or alcohol abuse happens in their home, and they seek to communicate this directly or indirectly.
They can lash out as a means to “register protest.” They can also become victims of abuse and neglect and often wind up in the state machine.
Some agencies and individuals would recommend putting these children on psychotropic pharmaceuticals that cause dependence and addiction, but this is a form of legalized drug pushing. Children can benefit greatly from good sound help, compassion, communication, and common sense.
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS), also known as Save Our Selves, is a network of independent groups that take a self-empowerment approach to abstinence and recovery. They do not place emphasis on spiritual or divine factors in sobriety, but on rational individual decision-making and direct communication within a group meeting format.
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training)
SMART is an international non-profit organization that utilizes a secular and science-based addiction recovery system. Their emphasis is on self-directed change through such methods as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other techniques based on their 4-point program.
Women for Sobriety (WFS)
Women for Sobriety, founded in 1976, is a group dedicated to helping women struggling with alcoholism. Their program is based on a series of 13 positive statements which focus on traits and concepts such as responsibility and compassion. Their system is conducted through group meetings which emphasize positive reinforcement and cognitive strategies (positive thinking).
White Bison Wellbriety Movement
White Bison is a non-profit group aimed at helping Native Americans with drug and alcohol addiction through the grassroots Wellbriety movement. Alcoholism, in particular, has been a historically devastating problem for indigenous people. Going back hundreds of years in America, the arrival of alcohol into their cultures has been intertwined with forcible eviction, war, and genocide. Even in the absence of direct conflict, government programs of “assimilation” brought about even more inter-generational trauma.
“Wellbriety” is a coined word that means “well” and “sober.” The “Well” refers to the inspiration to go beyond sobriety and recovery, focused on a life of healing and wellness. White Bison has produced materials that have been helpful not just to Native Americans, but those seeking a unique spiritual path to recovery. Even young people, formerly lost to addiction, have found solace and wisdom in a spiritual tradition dating back thousands of years.
United States, like the whole Midwest, has a rich and vibrant tradition of indigenous culture through tribes like the Meskwaki (Fox), the Sauk, and the Potawatomi – to name a few. The White Bison Wellbriety Movement works to eradicate drug and alcohol abuse while bringing about a rebirth within indigenous communities through knowledge and recognition of cultural and spiritual identity.
Summary
Drug rehab support groups offer different angles with which to look at these various elements. Participating in one can mark a moment of pivotal change for a recovering addict or alcoholic.
- aa.org – Alcoholics Anonymous
- al-anon.org – Al-Alon Family Groups
- verywellmind.com – Children of Alcoholics
- sossobriety.org – Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)
- smartrecovery.org – SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training)
- whitebison.org – White Bison Wellbriety Movement
