I am just wondering does anyone here after they are in recovery go to meetings, nar anon, al anon, aa, na, ca or whatever else. I have been looking into to these things and they show a high number of staying clean. Versus getting clean, not talking to anyone and then relapsing. I dont know. Just wondering. I do know some go to AA and seem to be working the program and doing alot better than some that dont. My thing is I'm not very religous and dont want alot of God talk either. I dont know any input on how meeting help you and what ones? I went to al anon for a while because my dad was an alcoholic and it helped me move on from alot of anger and other issues and I felt like it really helped. Thank Kim

Hi Kim,

I do go to recovery meetings. My home group is Cocaine Anonymous, but I also attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings sometimes. Cocaine Anonymous is based on AA and we use the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. We are not a religious group and God is not pushed on anyone. We are more a spirituality group than anything. We do believe there is a Higher Power. Some in the rooms choose their Higher Power to be God, others don't. There are those who are in my home group who are or were athiest when they arrived. If you attended Alanon then you know what the 12 step program is about. Alanon is also based on the 12 steps of recovery for the family/friends of Alcoholics/Addicts. Alanon believes in a Higher Power also. I was a member of Alanon 15 years ago also.

If you are interested, attend some different meeting sites. You would need to find the group that you are most comfortable with to be your home/base group. It is suggested to go to 90 meetings in 90 days. This gives you a base for your recovery. It takes at least a couple of weeks of going everyday to get comfortable going into the rooms. It's also suggested that one listen and you'll hear someone share and you'll swear they are telling your story. Talk to the people before and after meetings. Get phone numbers and use them. Get a sponsor who will lead you through working the steps. There are more suggestions of what to do which your sponsor will discuss with you.

For me, it took rehab and a 12 step program to get/stay clean. I am a recovering crack addict who could not go one day without using. This Tuesday I will be 14 months clean. I was sick and tired of existing. I was physically alive but emotionally and spiritually dead. I am willing to do whatever it takes to stay clean. I do what my sponsor suggest, even if I don't want to.

Most all people who come in the rooms have reservations about God. Some don't believe in God, some are angry with God, some think God turned his back on them. This is something that most all addicts/alcoholics have in common.

The 12 step program isn't for everyone. There are people who get/stay clean by other means. I am not a believer that the 12 step program is the only way to get/stay clean. But this is the only thing that has worked for me. Hope this helps to shed a little light.

Well spotted Kim; there's getting clean and then there's getting sober, big difference!!!

In AA we talk about God or our higher power or nothing if we are atheist or agnostic. It's not a requirement of attendance at 12 step meeting that you believe in God. In fact the 12 step are not about believing in God, they are about believing that you are "Powerless over your drug of choice and so you need a power great than that to overcome this." Hence the reason many people call it "Higher Power.

It's not like church through, I don't go to church, but I do have a personal relationship with God that helps me see through the crap that's in my head and it helps my life a live filled with so much more joy and happiness than I could of imaged. I had know idea when I first when to AA, I just thought the God talk was an extension of Church God talk, I'm glad I was open-minded.

I wish you the best however you precede. Many people on this board come just to get "Clean" and not "Sober," getting Sober takes time and so we don't often know how many get on; I wish you the best and hope that you at least give the 12 step group a good try, you're worth it :-)

Your right there!!! I have just noticed that I have been having alot of cravings and things to deal with so I was wondering what worked for others. I am clean but not sure sober! Does that make sense. Kim

I once read that recovering addicts who attend regular meetings never relapse,and i agree with the post which says the trick is to find a group you are comfortable in,katy attended 6 or 7 mettings and she was willing and it helped but unfortunatly out of 14 or so attendees most were older recovering alcoholics and im sure if thier had been younger drug addicts she would have continued,do and keep us posted,altho its confidential katy without giving names related some hilarious stories.sadmum

It is not a god thing although they use the word a lot. I have been clean now for five years almost from herion, among a lot more stuff. I have gone to meeting but I do not now nor have i in the five years i have been clean. Maybe a few times actually. I have gone to a counselor off and on through out the five years and a lot in the first few years. The thing is I am like a garden....you can de-weed the garden and everything is good but you have to continually go back and do it again because the weeds will come back and they will grow. That is my take on it. Meetings are not bad. They do seem a little cult like at times. I think meetings are good when you need to get past stuff and work through getting and staying sober. But have balance. A lot of people in meetings only hang out with others in meetings and to me that is not living in the real world. It is unhealthy. They seem to get better and then regress. It can become one more really sick thing if you let it. that is my take on it that is all. it is a wonderful place to get sober though.

Actually, once sober several years, it's about been there to help the newcomer. Offering what was freely given to me :-)