Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART™) is an option for recovery that focuses on changing thought patterns and subsequent behaviors to be more drug addiction treatment aligned with one’s values and priorities. SMART™ Recovery supports the use of medication-assisted treatment if needed. Still, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure, consider talking with a trusted doctor or mental health professional who specializes in addiction. Many of the support groups on this list offer free services or request an optional donation — so there isn’t any pressure to pay beyond what you can afford. However, talking with a professional therapist or coach usually comes at a higher cost. Loosid is a free app for your smartphone that encourages you to have fun while staying sober.
- Substance use support groups can be known by many other names, too.
- White talked about why AA was successful among the succession of mutual aid recovery groups.
- Another feature of the app is a “burning desire” button that you can press to notify your group that you are having a difficult time and are thinking about drinking or using again soon.
- AA also operates on the tradition that the group’s common welfare comes first, and the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking.
- At 4-, 6-, and 8-year follow-up, girls (40% of the sample) had more abstinent days than boys.
Groups for Family and Friends
There are many groups available, both online and in-person, that can provide you with life-long support on your recovery journey. Support groups help people realize they are not alone as they navigate treatment and recovery from addiction. Participating in these groups can be empowering and help people realize it is possible to regain control of their lives and learn different ways to respond to stress or pain. They learn that change is possible because they listen to and learn from others walking the same path.
List of the best online sobriety support groups
LifeRing focuses on the present day rather than the struggling with alcohol addiction past and promotes the idea that what will work for each person is unique. There are also support groups specifically for family members or children who are coping with a loved one’s mental health, drug, or alcohol issues. You can also reach out to your state, county, or local mental health and substance use agency to find other local resources like peer recovery. While online groups offer comfort from behind a screen, in-person meetings can provide valuable relationship building and support. LifeRing members have access to face-to-face meetings, online meetings, an educational toolkit, email groups, one-on-one sobriety “ePals,” a 24-hour chat room, and forums.
- People must sign up online and fill out a questionnaire detailing their goals.
- The plan is intended to provide practical tools to address recovery head-on with a support system in place.
- Certain medications have been shown to effectively help people stop or reduce their drinking and avoid a return to drinking.
- However, the sessions may be more comfortable than AA if you want to engage in discussions that revolve around mental health.
- Members of AA are also encouraged but not required to engage with a sponsor.
- The NIAAA offers free pamphlets and publications to help addicts, family members, and healthcare professionals learn how to address alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
- However, it’s always a good idea to call your insurance provider to double-check if any of these services or expenses are covered.
How Much Do Online Sobriety Support Groups Cost?
Tempest combines mindfulness and CBT to help people abstain from drinking alcohol. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these support groups. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the time of publication. Below is a selection of alcohol support groups that people may wish to join. You can just sit and listen and learn more about recovery, or you can share about your situation.
First, AA has been thriving and expanding since 1935, and membership surveys count two million members worldwide. Second, AA is accessible and available in an abundance of communities, whereas other recovery organizations may not have meetings in as many locations. It is important to gauge whether the facility provides all the currently available, evidence-based methods or relies on one approach. You may want to learn if the program or provider offers medication and whether mental health issues are addressed together with alcohol treatment. Alcohol support groups offer peer support for those who are recovering from alcohol use disorder.
