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Drug and Alcohol Abstinence Support Groups | ![[Image]](pict13.jpg) |
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Drug and Alcohol Abstinence Support Groups | |
Abstinence Support Groups are meetings of participants in the Second Chance program who share a common problem: Addiction. Some of us are alcoholics, some of us are drug addicts, and some of us believe we have problems with both alcohol and other drugs. "Abstinence" means that we are a drug free program. We believe that our addictions must be handled by quitting all drug and alcohol use completely."Support" means that our reason for meeting is to challenge each other's addiction and to support each other's attempts to stay clean and sober. Some of us had problems with heroin, others with crank (methamphetamine) or cocaine. Some of us primarily used marijuana, others alcohol, and some of us tried just about everything. We have found that, while the details of our stories may be quite different, the difficulties we have trying to stay straight and adjust to life in the sober world are very similar. Anyone having trouble with "any drug is eligible to join us.
Is this an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous group?
No. First of all, AA and NA aren't affiliated with Second Chance or any other agency; in fact, such "non-affiliation" is a fundamental principle of those organizations. Secondly, AA and NA and other "twelve step" programs work primarily through discussing the "Twelve Steps of Recovery". No group which doesn't do this (and we do not) is "like" AA or NA.What we are is a support, resource, and discussion group. We share our experiences about what seems to work and not work when trying to stay clean and sober. Many of our members also belong to AA or NA, so naturally their discussion often involves the 12 Steps. But others among us do not go to AA or NA and they handle the challenges of recovery differently. These are individual decisions.The Abstinence Support Group is neither "part of" a twelve step program NOR "instead of one". It is a resource which many people have found important to their recovery. Whether or not you have had past or present experience in AA or NA, you are welcome to join us to see if that will help you.
Like all of Second Chance' voluntary programs, the Abstinence Support Groups are free. We can always use donations, whether of money, volunteer time, or other things (furniture, food for our lunch program, etc.), but there is no charge to come to the groups.
If this group is "drug free", where does that leave heroin addicts who are legally receiving Methadone?
If you are in a "Methadone Detox" program designed to "taper you off", there's no problem at all. Just let us know so we can give you the extra support you'll need in the last few days of your detox. If you're involved in "Methadone Maintenance", you may still fit in if you are actively involved in trying to reduce your dose with a view towards becoming drug-free in the future. Again, talk to us about this. If you plan to stay on methadone permanently, this probably isn't the group for you. We have no particular quarrel with approaches other than our own "drug free" program, but we're not set up to give you the kind of support you need. But again, at least let us know what's going on and maybe we can arrange for some kind of assistance through some other part of our program.
I'm receiving psychiatric medication for mental problems. Will I have to stop taking it to come to this program?
Not at all. A growing number of us are "dually diagnosed", meaning that we have both mental or emotional problems AND drug or alcohol problems. Some of us need to take certain prescription "meds" in order to control our symptoms so that we can work a recovery program. You are welcome to join us.
How do I join the Abstinence Support Group?
You just show up. No referral needed. We'll take care of "signing you up" before or after the meeting.We have a wide variety of meeting days and times at our centers in Fremont, Newark, Hayward and San Leandro. Call (510) 792-4357 to find out about times and places.