{"id":466,"date":"2020-04-25T05:07:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-25T09:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.randywithers.com\/?p=466---bc8d5ec7-2dd5-472c-96ca-8d7de5588176"},"modified":"2022-07-07T14:57:19","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T18:57:19","slug":"facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Key Facts About SMART Recovery: A Self-Help Treatment Approach For Addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#What_Is_SMART_Recovery\" title=\"What Is SMART Recovery?\">What Is SMART Recovery?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#Is_There_Something_Wrong_With_Alcoholics_Anonymous\" title=\"Is There Something Wrong With Alcoholics Anonymous?\">Is There Something Wrong With Alcoholics Anonymous?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#5_Facts_About_Smart_Recovery\" title=\"5 Facts About Smart Recovery\">5 Facts About Smart Recovery<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#1_Its_okay_to_talk_about_mental_illness\" title=\"1. It\u2019s okay to talk about mental&nbsp;illness.\">1. It\u2019s okay to talk about mental&nbsp;illness.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#2_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_uses_evidence-based_interventions_and_prescribed_psychiatric_medication\" title=\"2. SMART Recovery\u00ae uses evidence-based interventions and prescribed psychiatric medication.\">2. SMART Recovery\u00ae uses evidence-based interventions and prescribed psychiatric medication.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#3_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_recognizes_the_complexity_of_addiction\" title=\"3. SMART Recovery\u00ae recognizes the complexity of addiction.\">3. SMART Recovery\u00ae recognizes the complexity of addiction.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#4_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_is_based_on_science_not_spirituality\" title=\"4. SMART Recovery\u00ae is based on science, not spirituality.\">4. SMART Recovery\u00ae is based on science, not spirituality.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#5_SMART_Recovery_Offers_Meetings_Online_and_In_Your_Community\" title=\"5. SMART Recovery Offers Meetings Online and In Your Community\">5. SMART Recovery Offers Meetings Online and In Your Community<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#Final_Thoughts_About_SMART_Recovery\" title=\"Final Thoughts About SMART Recovery\">Final Thoughts About SMART Recovery<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/facts-about-smart-recovery-and-addiction\/#References\" title=\"References\">References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Do you struggle with drug or alcohol addiction? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do, you&#8217;ve probably heard of Alcoholics Anonymous, the largest community support group in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AA is a great choice for many, but what happens if you give it a try and decide that it&#8217;s not right for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you heard about SMART Recovery?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction.jpg\" alt=\"5 Key Facts About SMART Recovery A Self-Help Treatment Approach For Addiction\" class=\"wp-image-33735 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction.jpg\" alt=\"5 Key Facts About SMART Recovery A Self-Help Treatment Approach For Addiction\" class=\"wp-image-33735 lazyload\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction-83x125.jpg 83w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Key-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-A-Self-Help-Treatment-Approach-For-Addiction-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>5 Key Facts About SMART Recovery A Self-Help Treatment Approach For Addiction<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_SMART_Recovery\"><\/span>What Is SMART Recovery?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery is a nationwide network of support groups for people who struggle with addiction. It&#8217;s one of the largest support systems in the world, rivaled only by 12-Step Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;SMART&#8221; is an acronym that stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training<\/strong>. It is a secular organization rooted in science. Specifically, it uses Rational-Emotive Behavioral <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" data-wpil=\"url\" title=\"Therapy\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/therapy\/\">Therapy<\/a> (REBT) and non-confrontational motivational methods to help members make positive changes in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_There_Something_Wrong_With_Alcoholics_Anonymous\"><\/span>Is There Something Wrong With Alcoholics Anonymous?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alcoholics Anonymous has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands. So has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/lies-about-narcotics-anonymous\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Narcotics Anonymous<\/a>. And if they work for you, then keep going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only problem with AA is that it doesn&#8217;t work for everyone. One of the reasons why is that 12-Step programs promote a faith-based approach to recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s great if faith is important to you. But what if it&#8217;s not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Peer-reviewed studies like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2746426\/\" target=\"_blank\">this one<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/25421504\" target=\"_blank\">this one<\/a> and&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/16856072\" target=\"_blank\">this one<\/a> have shown that 12-Step Programs are only successful for 10\u201315% of the people who have tried them, which begs the question: why do they only seem to work for a fraction of the people who try them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Logic dictates that we try to understand what it is that works about them and what it is that does not. Addiction is, after all, a condition that is chronic, progressive, and incurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12-Step programs treat the spiritual components of <a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/substance-abuse\/\">addiction<\/a>, but they fail to address critical things that impact our ability to recover, like co-occurring mental illness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the culture of these programs is such that even talking about mental illness is frowned upon.&nbsp;The prevalent belief is that a spiritual deficit exists, which is what one should focus on changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe that\u2019s why 12-Step Programs are only successful a fraction of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the treatment of mental illness is a bit more complicated than remaining abstinent. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/myths-about-addiction\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Most drug addicts self-medicate<\/a>. Should we not be treating the conditions that keep so many in active addiction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is true that 12-Step Programs get the lion&#8217;s share of press, but they aren\u2019t the only game in town. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.smartrecovery.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">SMART Recovery<\/a>\u00ae has been growing in popularity for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"lazyload\" title=\"About SMART Recovery (Self-Management And Recovery Training).\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zxzhzQJqzZ4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>About SMART Recovery (Self-Management And Recovery Training). Courtesy, YouTube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Facts_About_Smart_Recovery\"><\/span>5 Facts About Smart Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4082\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Its_okay_to_talk_about_mental_illness\"><\/span><strong>1. It\u2019s okay to talk about mental&nbsp;illness.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report that 20 million adults in this country have a substance use disorder. And of those 20 million, about half have a co-occurring <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" data-wpil=\"url\" title=\"mental health\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/mental-health\/\">mental health<\/a> disorder, which means that they are also dealing with some form of depressive, anxiety, mood, or psychotic disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank discussions about mental health tend to be frowned upon in 12-Step meetings. It has something to do with the 12-Step belief in a Higher Power and the power of The Program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea is, if you\u2019re working the program the way you should, your sanity should be restored and you get to be a productive member of society. Frankly, overt discussions about mental illness disrupt that narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zealots often claim that you are not working the program to the best of your ability if you were still depressed or manic or any of the other things that come with mental illness. This is from AA\u2019s&nbsp;<em>Big Book<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cRarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way.\u201d<\/p><cite>Alcoholics Anonymous<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And from NA\u2019s&nbsp;<em>Basic Text<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cWe have never seen a person relapse who lives the Narcotics Anonymous program.\u201d<\/p><cite>The Basic Text, Narcotics Anonymous<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery\u00ae, on the other hand, recognizes mental illness is separate from addiction. It acknowledges that psychiatric distress often keeps people using and endorses the use of therapeutic interventions such as&nbsp;<a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/smartrecovery.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/basics-of-rebt.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)<\/a>&nbsp;to address the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ta-image wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a class=\"thirstylinkimg\" rel=\"nofollow rel=&quot;sponsored&quot;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"BetterHelp Ad\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/recommends\/betterhelp-ad\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35447 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35447 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1-200x105.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1-400x209.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BetterHelp-1-150x79.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><figcaption>Sign up with BetterHelp today and get 10% off!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6e5e\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_uses_evidence-based_interventions_and_prescribed_psychiatric_medication\"><\/span><strong>2. SMART Recovery\u00ae uses evidence-based interventions and prescribed psychiatric medication.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This might be the single biggest difference between SMART Recovery\u00ae and 12-Step Programs, which make a point of separating themselves from \u201cprofessional services.\u201d It\u2019s even against their guidelines to have trained clinicians involved in meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NA, for example, believes that \u201cthe therapeutic benefit of one addict helping another is without parallel.\u201d That sounds great, and for many it\u2019s true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you need more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12-Step Programs are populated by sick people helping other sick people.&nbsp;This works for some, but why is it a bad idea to use evidence-based therapies or even prescribed medications in the fight against addiction and co-occurring mental illness? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many members of NA and AA despise the very mention of medication. Some would go as far as to say you are not working an honest program if you are using any drug, prescribed or otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Total abstinence from everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Related<\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong> Learn how to quit alcohol addiction forever<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you consider that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/suicide-in-the-united-states\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">47,000 die in this country every year from suicide<\/a>, 90% of whom had a mental disorder, it is alarming to see a support group taking such a cynical attitude towards professional intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it is not a good idea for a recovering heroin user to take narcotic painkillers when Advil would do, this belief gets a bit murkier when you start looking at mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4704\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_recognizes_the_complexity_of_addiction\"><\/span><strong>3. SMART Recovery\u00ae recognizes the complexity of addiction.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/how-to-help-an-addict\/\" title=\"Drug addiction\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">Drug addiction<\/a> takes many forms. Many people who suffer from addiction claim they can get addicted to anything\u200a\u2014\u200aheroin, crack, sex, soap operas, you name it. Others have their one drug of choice and never had problems with anything else. Some addicts forego drugs and find themselves addicted to shopping, gambling, work, or sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery\u00ae accepts that addiction is a complicated, multi-faceted disease. Some people require medication; some don\u2019t. Some people require hospitalization; some don\u2019t. Some people need therapy; others need accountability, direction, structure, or all of these things, or none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/the-link-between-addiction-and-depression\/\">addiction is self-medication for depression<\/a>. Sometimes it\u2019s more on the <a href=\"https:\/\/impulsetherapy.com\/ocd-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) spectrum<\/a>. Sometimes people truly are physically addicted to a drug, as is often the case with opiates and heroin. Sometimes it\u2019s more psychological. Often, it\u2019s a combination of several factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faith in a higher power is certainly helpful. But is it enough?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"be0c\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_SMART_Recovery%C2%AE_is_based_on_science_not_spirituality\"><\/span><strong>4. SMART Recovery\u00ae is based on science, not spirituality.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At 12-Step Meetings, you\u2019re supposed to say \u201cHi my name is \u201cX,\u201d and I\u2019m an addict.\u201d It\u2019s weird if you don\u2019t. The idea is that we have to accept who we are. But is it possible that we can change? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery says yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery\u00ae discourages the use of labels such as \u201calcoholic\u201d or \u201caddict.\u201d It has a scientific foundation, not a spiritual one. It promotes self-reliance over powerlessness.&nbsp;Meetings are discussions where members talk with one another. Meeting attendance is encouraged for months, sometimes years, but not a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic assumption with 12-Step groups is that you attend those meetings&nbsp;<em>for the rest of your life<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if that is the right thing to do, how realistic do you suppose that is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re seeing the same therapist five years later, you really have to ask yourself if any work is actually being done. Wouldn\u2019t the same thing be true with support groups?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, the concept of \u201cpowerlessness\u201d is problematic for many. It\u2019s also a HUGE part of the 12\u2013Step philosophy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have to admit that we are powerless. Only then can we admit we need help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s true, but the problem is that people tend to use powerlessness as an excuse for all sorts of things, including relapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery\u00ae advocates self-reliance, which is the cornerstone of any modern treatment modality.&nbsp;If we are to get better, we will need to lean on others at first, but eventually, we are going to have to lead our own lives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_SMART_Recovery_Offers_Meetings_Online_and_In_Your_Community\"><\/span><strong>5. SMART Recovery Offers Meetings Online and In Your Community<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Coronavirus Pandemic has forced many addiction support groups to hold meetings online. Thousands of face-to-face meetings have shut down indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery is no exception. Many of the local community meetings are on hiatus for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But SMART Recovery pioneered the concept of online support groups for addiction treatment. They&#8217;ve been holing meetings online for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SMART Recovery Online (SROL) is a wonderful online community where members help one another recover from addictive behaviors. It offers daily online meetings, message boards, and a 24\/7 live chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These online <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/resources\/\" title=\"resources\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">resources<\/a> are available for free 365 days a year. You can learn more about them by going <a aria-label=\"here (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartrecovery.org\/community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also offer trainings for anyone who wants to start their own meeting. Whether you are a volunteer or a professional, you can learn how to run a SMART Redovery meeting in about two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in learning more, visit their <a aria-label=\"Smart Recovery Training (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/t2.smartrecoverytraining.org\/moodle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Smart Recovery Training<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SMARTRecovery.png\" alt=\"SMART Recovery\" class=\"wp-image-4947 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"858\" height=\"302\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SMARTRecovery.png\" alt=\"SMART Recovery\" class=\"wp-image-4947 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SMARTRecovery.png 858w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SMARTRecovery-400x141.png 400w, https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SMARTRecovery-768x270.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0886\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts_About_SMART_Recovery\"><\/span>Final Thoughts About SMART Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2005, I went to rehab for drug addiction. I also started attending <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/lies-about-narcotics-anonymous\/\">Narcotics Anonymous<\/a>. I\u2019ve worked the 12 Steps. I\u2019ve had a sponsor and I\u2019ve sponsored others. These days I\u2019m a licensed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/substance-abuse\/\">substance abuse<\/a> counselor, so I have the benefit of both personal and professional experience. Here\u2019s what I have learned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recovery is holistic in nature. It is far more complicated than just not using. It\u2019s about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/benefits-of-hypnotherapy\/\">mental and physical health<\/a>. It\u2019s about setting goals and achieving them. It\u2019s about avoiding toxic people and <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/category\/relationships\/\" title=\"relationships\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">relationships<\/a>. It\u2019s about diet. It\u2019s about spirituality and service. It\u2019s about finding a job that you love and a partner that you adore. It\u2019s about prayer and sacrifice and education and practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But mostly, it\u2019s&nbsp;about connection\u200a\u2014\u200aconnection to others, connection to our world, connection to ourselves. People who are connected to the world in which they live tend to be more mentally healthy than those who live in isolation. Those who are mentally healthy tend not to become addicted to drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you struggle with addiction, take a long, hard look at how you relate to your world and have the courage to make changes where needed. We do recover, but only if we have the willingness to do what we must to make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about SMART Recovery, <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartrecovery.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"rank-math-link\">visit their website.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you think? Please leave a comment below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span>References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartrecovery.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SMART Recovery &#8211; Official Website<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/addiction-treatment_b_1663494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">If Not AA, Then What? SMART Recovery and the AA Alternatives<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alcohol.org\/aftercare\/support-groups\/smart-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Does SMART Recovery Work?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is SMART Recovery? It&#8217;s a science-based alternative to faith-based and 12-Step Programs such as AA and NA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":33734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ub_ctt_via":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[812,140,972,885,38,40,42],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"modified_by":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",800,450,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-150x84.jpg",150,84,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery-400x225.jpg",400,225,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",800,450,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",800,450,false],"tiny":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",60,34,false],"thumbnail-medium":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-square":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-portrait":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",480,270,false],"thumbnail-large":["https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-Facts-About-SMART-Recovery.jpg",720,405,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Randy Withers, LCMHC","author_link":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/author\/randy-withers\/"},"uagb_comment_info":6,"uagb_excerpt":"What is SMART Recovery? It's a science-based alternative to faith-based and 12-Step Programs such as AA and NA.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blunt-therapy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}