The fact of the matter is, AA doesn’t work for everyone. Looking for an alternative or a second chance at recovery? There are many alternative programs available.
For a person who uses or abuses drugs or alcohol, it can be particularly difficult to findalternatives to traditional recovery programs. It has been shown that one of the most important factors in drug or alcohol treatment is the support system around the person in need of help.
The standard support group that most people are familiar with isAlcoholics Anonymous (AA). Despite its reputation, AA is not for everyone. In these cases, severalalternatives to Alcoholics Anonymousare available.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery, or Self-Management and Recovery Training, is a secular alternative to AA and similar spirituality-based interventions. SMART has several meetings per week in many cities and uses non-confrontational methods to help people overcome addiction problems. This program is centered around positive, rather than negative, reinforcement.
LifeRing
LifeRingsecular recovery is a support group that embraces whatever works for a particular individual. According to their website: “There are as many ways to live free of drugs and alcohol as there are stories of successful sober people.”
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LifeRing secular recoveryallows each member to design their own recovery pathway, with peer and structural support along the way. Some of their available resources are face-to-face meetings, online materials and publications. LifeRing also provides online meetings for those who are more comfortable communicating this way or do not have access to face-to-face meetings in their city.
SOS
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)is another non-spirituality focused organization that focuses on sobriety and mutual support.SOSwas founded by James Christopher, a former AA attendee that became frustrated with the emphasis on God and religion. He expressed that frustration by writing “Sobriety Without Superstition,” published in Free Inquiry, a secular humanist journal. He received enough positive feedback that he founded SOS.
SOS recoveryfocuses on factors outside of spirituality like genetics and environmental factors. Importantly, SOS allows its members to determine for themselves whether they believe alcoholism is a disease.
HAMS
Harm reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support (HAMS)is “a set of practical strategies intended to reduce the negative consequences of high-risk behaviors such as overdrinking or drug use.” This method is a nonjudgmental approach that tries to meet people “where they are at” instead of demanding complete abstinence.
HAMS harm reduction for alcoholencourages its members to set their own goals regarding alcohol and drug use. Harm reduction for one person might mean drinking two drinks a day instead of ten, while it might mean complete sobriety for someone else. As long as the individual is making an improvement and reducing self-harm, their goals align with HAMS.
Women for Sobriety
Women for Sobriety (WFS)is an abstinence-based self-help program for women who need help with alcohol and drug addiction issues. The group encourages nurturing self-value and self-worth while discarding feelings of guilt, shame and humiliation. Women in WFS live by the philosophy “Release the past — plan for tomorrow — live for today.”
WFS also focuses on the unique needs of women in the setting of rehab and recovery. The idea is that most sobriety programs have historically been designed with men in mind, which is reflected in the fact that men showed higher recovery rates with traditional programs. WFS welcomes all expressions of female identity, along with members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Rational Recovery
Rational Recovery (RR)is an individual-based recovery program centered around the Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT®).RRtakes a radically different approach to recovery and acts as a complete counterpoint to AA. Within the framework of RR, recovery is a private and personal experience. There is no place for addiction treatment centers, group therapy and counseling outside the self. RR stresses the idea that substances both quell and cause anxiety. The desire to use substances comes from the internal addictive voice, which AVRT® seeks to help one recognize.
Refuge Recovery
Refugee Recoveryis built on Buddhist teachings. Their page describes the program as “an approach to recovery that understands: all individuals have the power and potential to free themselves from the suffering that is caused by addiction.”
The four “truths of refuge recovery” are:
- Addiction creates suffering
- The cause of addiction is repetitive craving
- Recovery is possible
- The path to recovery is available
For those looking for a spiritual approach that is different from AA or traditional sobriety programs,Refuge Recoverymay be a strong option.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recoveryis a 12-step program that incorporates Christian teachings as its spiritual component.Celebrate Recoverymay be ideal for someone who would like to combine their Christian spirituality with their journey to sobriety. This program supports reducing the stigma associated with mental health and helping pastors with addiction find their road to recovery. Celebrate Recovery has group meetings available in most states.
Moderation Management
Like some other groups supporting those who abusealcohol,Moderation Managementtakes a harm reduction approach to recovery. It is directed at non-dependent problem drinkers that do not want to stop drinking but want to reduce their alcohol use. This approach disregards the “disease theory of alcoholism” because they believe it may erode self-confidence in some people.Moderation Managementis built upon principles ofcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Members set their own drinking goals and use CBT techniques to achieve them.
Why 12-Step Alternatives are Important
12-steps programs follow a regimented set of guidelines that work for some people. For others, they can be alienating and contribute to their lack of success in recovery. There is no one-size-fits-all model, and AA alternatives provide another avenue for long-term sobriety that some people find more effective.
List of Non-12-Step Recovery Programs
The following is a compiled list of all groups discussed in this article:
- SMART Recovery
- LifeRing
- SOS
- HAMS
- Women for Sobriety
- Rational Recovery
- Refuge Recovery
- Celebrate Recovery
- Moderation Management
If you have questions about these programs or other treatment options for alcohol and drug abuse, reach out toThe Recovery Villagefor more information.
