Recovery Programs

Addiction Recovery Programs

An addict's mind and body is essentially held prisoner by his or her compulsion for drugs, alcohol, gambling, nicotine, sex or other substances and behaviors. Addictions like these, however, are not a hopeless case. As long as the addict has enough will to break the chains of addiction, drug abuse help is always available, including various recovery programs that are in place to help them improve their prospects for a healthy, balanced, and meaningful life through structured and progressive plans for addiction recovery.

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12-Step Substance Abuse Recovery Programs

Many addicts turn to 12-Step Substance Abuse Recovery Programs, which essentially operate on a set of principles that serve as a guide for addicts towards ridding themselves of their drug or behavioral addictions. A hallmark of these kinds of programs are meetings, where recovering addicts get the chance to express themselves, listen, and interact with facilitators and fellow addicts without fear of being judged.

Alcoholics Anonymous Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous bears the distinction of being the first recovery group. And in its more than 70 years of existence, it has helped millions of alcoholic Americans turn their lives around, and is the model for all 12-Step Recovery Programs. Learn more...
Cocaine Anonymous This group was founded in 1982 to help to cocaine addicts by providing them with a supportive group of people who have a clear understanding of the problems brought about by cocaine abuse. Learn more...
Crystal Meth Anonymous A non-profit and self-supporting twelve-step fellowship, Crystal Meth Anonymous aims to help crystal meth addicts kick the habit, remain clean and help other addicts as well. It closely follows the program found in the "Big Book" for Alcoholics Anonymous. Learn more...
Marijuana Anonymous Individuals who want to stop marijuana use flock to Marijuana Anonymous, which has been helping marijuana abusers of all ages, races, sexual orientations or genders since 1989. Learn more...
Nar-Anon Most 12-step recovery programs are for addicts. Nar-anon, however, is a 12-step program designed for friends and family members of drug addicts. This group is meant to work closely with Narcotics Anonymous. Learn more...
Narcotics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous is the second-largest 12-step organization. It is modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous, focusing on men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. Learn more...
Nicotine Anonymous A group of Alcoholics Anonymous member who wish to stop smoking established this group in 1982. Anyone who desires to quit smoking and live nicotine free are welcome to join the group, which focuses on finding a higher power, turning over self-will, and admitting powerlessness over nicotine. Learn more...

12-Step Behavioral Addiction Recovery Programs

Just as addictions other than those involving drugs, alcohol and other mind-altering substances exist, there are also recovery programs that have been established to help individuals suffering from various behavioral addictions.

Clutterers Anonymous Cluttering may not be lethal like alcoholism or drug addiction but it can have devastating consequences. This is why Clutterers Anonymous (CLA) was founded, to help individuals who desire to eliminate clutter and bring order into their lives. Learn more...
Codependents Anonymous Helping millions of people form functional and healthy relationships is one of the primary goals of this group. Founded in 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona, Codependents Anonymous or CoDa currently has an estimated 1200 groups all over the United States and in forty countries worldwide. Learn more...
Debtors Anonymous Anyone who is unable to maintain financial solvency due to compulsive accumulation of debts are welcome to join Debtors Anonymous (DA). All it requires of one to become a member is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. Learn more...
Emotions Anonymous Anyone who wants to become emotionally and mentally well are welcome to join Emotions Anonymous (EA). The groups aims to help people suffering from problems as diverse as depression, anger, low self-esteem, panic, abnormal fears, resentment, jealousy, guilt, fatigue, tension, boredom, grief, loneliness, despair and a variety of other emotional issues. Learn more...
Gamblers Anonymous Established in 1957 in Los Angeles, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) helps people with gambling problems. It is a welcome refuge for individuals whose compulsive gambling has caused them legal problems, employment difficulties, psychological distress and dysfunctional family lives. Learn more...
Neurotics Anonymous Neurotics Anonymous or NAIL is the predecessor of Emotions Anonymous (EA). Though smaller, NAIL shares the same goals as EA, that is, helping people suffering from mental and emotional illness. Learn more...
Online Gamers Anonymous On-Line Gamers Anonymous (OLGA) was founded in 2002 by a woman whose son committed suicide while logged in to an online game. It aims to help individuals suffering from video game addiction through message boards, online meetings and other tools for video game addicts and their friends and family to use for their own healing.Learn more...
Overeaters Anonymous Individuals with a problematic relationship with food, whether they be compulsive overeaters, those with binge eating disorders, bulimics or anorexics, are the main focus of Overeaters Anonymous (OA). Founded in 1960, OA has an estimated membership of 70,000 and is active in over 70 countries. Learn more...
Sexaholics Anonymous Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) is one of a number of 12-step groups that seek recovery from sexual addiction. The group. however, distinguishes from these groups with its definition of sexual sobriety as having no sex with self or with partners other than their spouse. Learn more...
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous Founded in 1982 to address specific issues of sexual compulsion among homosexual men, Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) is now open to all sexual orientations. All it requires for membership is a desire to stop having compulsive sex. Learn more...
Sex Addicts Anonymous Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is a twelve-step program open to anyone who wishes to put a stop to their addictive sexual behavior. Sex addicts of all sexual preferences are welcome to join the group. Learn more...
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), a twelve-step program for sex addicts and love addicts, started out in 1977 as an attempt by a member of Alcoholics Anonymous to stop his own compulsive sexual behavior. Sometimes known as the Augustine Fellowship, SLAA recommends monogamous relationships to its members. It also encourages them to steer clear of anonymous sex, casual sex, one-night stands and other similar sexual acts. Learn more...
Smokers Anonymous Smokers Anonymous is the original name for Nicotine Anonymous (NicA). A group of Alcoholics Anonymous members in Los Angeles and San Francisco began meeting in the early 80s to focus on stopping their own smoking habits, calling themselves Smokers Anonymous. They later changed the name of the group to Nicotine Anonymous as the Smokers Anonymous trademark was already taken.Learn more...
Workaholics Anonymous Workaholics Anonymous (WA) meetings welcome anyone who desires to stop working compulsively. Members identifying themselves as "powerless over compulsive work, worry, or activity". Learn more...

Non 12-Step Substance Abuse Recovery Programs

While 12-Step programs are some of the most widely known treatment methods for substance abusers, there are alternatives to the twelve steps. SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery (RR) and Women For Sobriety, Inc. (WFS) are among the better known examples.

Non 12-Step Behavioral Addiction Recovery Programs

Some behavioral addicts go for behavioral addiction recovery programs which do not follow the 12-step structure of most groups. Most of them involve individualized psychotherapy sessions, personalized nutrition planning, spiritual healing techniques and various fitness activities.

Support Groups for Addictions

Support groups for addictions provide recovering addicts a non-judgmental venue for expressing powerful emotions and telling personal experiences that would have otherwise remain a secret. They also often serve as a source of mutual emotional support and encouragement to look after oneself.

Wellness Coaching for Addicts

Recovering addicts need not only to get their lives back on track, but also to maximize their personal and professional potential. This is where wellness coaching or life coaching for addicts comes in, developing and reaching a client's goals, as well as organizing their lives.

Self-Help for Addicts

Many addicts in recovery turn to self-help groups to better their lives. Centered on peer-to-peer support, self-help groups facilitate an individual's personal development, enabling them to establish friendships and networks, achieve personal growth, and acquire a sense of belonging.

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