Find a Support Group Meeting Near You

Find a Support Group Meeting Near You Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Print How Can I Find a Support Group Meeting Near Me? By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on May 11, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 13, 2020 Daly and Newton / Getty Images More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Overcoming Addiction Personal Stories Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Participating in a support group, along with other medical and professional alcohol and drug treatment programs, can have many potential benefits. A support group may help you recover by offering social support, helping you develop recovery coping skills, enhancing your motivation, reducing depressive symptoms, and increasing your psychological well-being. Who Should Join a Support Group? If you or a family member is dealing with an addiction or mental health disorder, a support group may be the ideal place to feel less isolated and to learn from others with similar problems and shared experiences. Often, youre not required to talk in a support groupâ€"you can share as little or as much as youd likeâ€"so youll be able to observe the group before deciding if its the right one for you. Its important for you to be comfortable with the group so you can eventually open up and get to know your peers. What Does It Take to Join a Support Group? For most support groups, all that is required to join is a desire to begin recovery. Most people join a support group by simply walking in the door of a meeting near them. No invitation is required and there are no dues or fees. For members, there is often a voluntary collection. That said, there are open meetings for members and non-members as well as  closed meetings for members and prospective members only. Depending on the type of meeting, you might come across some of the following codes that indicate a more exclusive support group or additional services offered: (ASL) American Sign Language(BS) Book study(CF) Child-friendly(D) Discussion(G) Gay/lesbian(M) Men only(P) Participation(SS) Step study(W) Women only(WA) Wheelchair access How to Find a Support Group Meeting Your primary care physician or mental health professional is often the best place to start when finding a local support group. You can also search for a local meeting via the websites of the various support groups. Some organizations also have apps you can use to find meetings. You can still find a meeting the old-school way by looking up a phone number in the white pages of the local telephone book.   Some databases are detailed and allow you to see which meetings are for newcomers or are  wheelchair accessible, non-smoking, or LGBT-friendly, among other characteristics. Other pages are less detailed and may only have phone numbers or listings for you to contact the meeting organizers. Here is a list of official mutual support group websites and their meeting listings.  If you cannot locate a face-to-face (in-person) meeting near you, there are many  online  meetings  available. Alcohol, Drug, Prescription Medication Abuse These include 12-step groups and those with other philosophies, as noted: Alcoholics Anonymous:  Search for the telephone numbers of AA Central Offices and Intergroups by zip code or state. The site does not give you locations of local meetings, but the Intergroup local sites have that information. You can find meetings around the world, which can be very useful when traveling.Chemical Dependent Anonymous:  Find a CD meeting by searching by state. They are a 12-step program supporting abstinence from all mood-changing and mind-altering chemicals, including street-type drugs, alcohol and unnecessary medication.Cocaine Anonymous: 12-step program for cocaine, alcohol, and other mind-altering substances.Crystal Meth Anonymous:  Search for CMA meetings by  zip  code and distance. They are a 12-step program.Dual Recovery Anonymous:  12-step program for those who have a psychiatric disorder and a substance abuse problem.Life Ring Secular Recovery:  Search for a Life Ring meeting for drug or alcohol recovery by location or join an online meeting. The Life Ring phi losophy differs from the 12-step programs in that it does not require you to rely on a higher power but believes in supporting your ability to strengthen your sober self and weaken your addict self.Marijuana Anonymous:  Search a list of in-person and online meetings by location. They have apps for iOS, Android, and Windows that can be used to search for meetings. It is a 12-step program.Moderation Management:  See a list and map of meetings around the world or join in telephone meetings. Moderation Management supports responsible drinking rather than a philosophy of total abstinence.Narcotics Anonymous:  Search the  meeting database by location. You can also download an  NA Meeting Search app for iOS or Android.Pills Anonymous:  Meetings list for PA around the world. They are a 12-step program.SMART Recovery:  Search the SMART recovery meeting database by country or state. SMART is not a 12-step program, but a self-help addiction recovery program for  substance abuse and alcohol abu se. Common Misconceptions at the First 12-Step Meeting Sex Addiction, Disordered Relationships, and Abuse Love Addicts Anonymous:  12-step program for those who have distorted thoughts, feelings, and behavior when it comes to love, fantasies, and relationships.Sexaholics Anonymous: 12-step program for those who want to stop lusting and become sexually sober.Sex Love Addicts Anonymous:  Find a meeting by searching by state or province. They are a 12-step program for those with an addictive compulsion to engage in or avoid sex, love, or emotional attachment.Sexual Compulsives Anonymous: A list of International SCA meetings in-person and online. They are a 12-step program.Sexual Recovery Anonymous:  12-step group for those who  desire  to stop compulsive sexual behavior.Survivors of Incest Anonymous: 12-step program for those who are over age 18 who were sexually abused as a child. Food and Nicotine Problem Behavior Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous:  12-step program for those who have had an eating problem, including overeating or bulimia.GreySheeters Anonymous:  12-step program for compulsive overeating.Overeaters Anonymous: 12-step program for overeating, undereating, anorexia, bulimia, and other problem eating behaviors. Emotional and Mental Health Recovery Depressed Anonymous: 12-step program for those recovering from depression.  Social Anxiety Anonymous/Social Phobics Anonymous: 12-step program for those with social anxiety disorder, shyness,  avoidant personality disorder, and  paruresis  (fear of using public restrooms). Financial and Acquisition Problem Behavior Debtors Anonymous:  12-step program for compulsive debtors.Gamblers Anonymous: A  group to support recovery from problem gambling and are guided by 12-step principles.Spenders Anonymous:  12-step program for those who want to recover from compulsive spending and taking on debt.Workaholics Anonymous:  WA meetings include  phone meetings, online meetings, or in-person meetings in the United States or Internationally. They are a 12-step program for those who are compulsive about work. For Families and Codependents These meetings are for those who have relatives and friends with addictions and problem behaviors. In addition to these groups, there are often links to family recovery groups for specific addictions or behaviors on the sites for the programs dedicated to them. Adult Children of Alcoholics:  Find an ACA meeting by location search. They also have online meetings and phone meetings.Alanon and Alateen:  Search for an Al-Anon Family Group meeting by location in the United States and Canada. You can also use their site to find  online  meetings, international meetings, or phone meetings.Codependents  Anonymous:  12-step program for recovery from unhealthy relationships.Families Anonymous:  Get a PDF file of FA meetings by state. This is a 12-step program for those who have a family member with an addiction or problem behavior.Nar-Anon: 12-step group for friends and families of people with substance use disorders.Recovering Couples Anonymous:  12-step group for couples who want to restore and maintain their relationship in recovery. Why Caregivers Need Support Groups A Word From Verywell Remember that support groups are what you make of them. If you are willing to be open and honest and a good listener who supports fellow members, you will get a lot out of your group, including hope and motivation for a healthier you.