Millions of recovering drug and alcohol addicts suffer daily the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health, around 7 million people are users of psychotherapeutic drugs that are taken illegally or non-medically.
These drugs include pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants. Also, the CDC estimates that at least 50 percent of adults are regular drinkers. These people face temptation on a daily basis that can cause them to fall back into their bad habits, and eventually, lead to using drugs or alcohol again. Building and relying on a good support system is the key factor to staying clean.
Family and Friends
One place to look for support is friends and family members. Once your loved ones understand that your addiction is a disease, and can be cured with help from professionals, the love and support of family and friends it will make your recovery easier. Many family members’ and friends’ lives are affected greatly by the drug or alcohol addict, and they also need support to learn how the addiction affects the addict One way to include these people in your recover is have them attend meetings with you to learn more about the psychological and social aspects of addiction.
There are many online and community support groups out there that offer support to a recovering addict. However, choosing the one for you might not be as easy as you think. Sit down with your family and friends and find a group that you both are comfortable with, and choose one that is moderated by a professional in the industry who might once have been an addict or studied behavior or psychology regarding addiction.
Support Groups
If you belong to a church, many religious organizations have outreach programs for addiction and can guide you to a program that fits your unique problem. Just by typing “internet support groups for addiction” on your computer, you will also find a myriad of groups in your area. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are two of the largest self-help groups out there, and they are well-known for treatment and recovery.
If you are trying to give up the drugs or alcohol and maintain your sobriety these groups can be a great resource for you. Meeting with others a couple times a week in a safe place for guidance support and assistance can be very helpful in maintaining your sobriety during your recovery process. The best part: they are free.
SOS
There are other groups that take a scientific approach with alternative recovery methods for people that are uncomfortable with the spiritual way AA and NA conduct their meetings. The most familiar is Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS). Family and friends are also welcome at the group support meetings. Whichever support system or group you choose, it needs to be right for you and your family.
For your continued success while attending the meetings, go regularly, interact with the other members, and be honest and truthful about your feelings, cravings, and urges. Remember, you may be going this alone or with friends or family, but you are going and taking the positive steps to live a clean, healthy, and sober lifestyle each day.
