Finding Mutual Support Groups for Addiction and Mental Illness in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adaptation by Dr. Stefan Kertesz of a list compiled initially by Ginger Ross (Peer Coach Director, Boulder Care)

Mutual aid support groups can be an important part of recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). Groups can serve both people with an SUD and their families, significant others, and friends.

Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, for those who have internet acces, online support groups have flourished and helped many people initiate or sustain their recovery. There are also audio-based meetings for people with a phone (e.g., https://aa-intergroup.org/oiaa/meetings/?formats=Telephone).

The list below reviews a variety of Support Groups that cover addiction broadly, Support Groups for particular substances of behaviors, groups pertaining to medication as part of addiction care, and groups for families, like Al-Anon. Dr. Kertesz reviewed each site for telephone or online options and has provided annotations if that was not evident. If there are errors or clarifications, please let me know at skertesz@uabmc.edu

Support Groups: General Recovery, not by Substance

• Recovery Cafés: all addiction support
• In the Rooms: a wide variety of online meetings 7 days a week, including AA, NA, dual diagnosis, crystal methamphetamines, Wellbriety, and more
• Unity Recovery: daily online all recovery meetings
• Celebrate Recovery: faith-based
• SMART Recovery: mutual-support meetings, based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Refuge Recovery: peer-led recovery support using Buddhist-inspired practices and principles
• Dharma Online Meetings: “Recovery Dharma Online organizes daily meetings accessible via computer, smartphone, or dial-in. Together we meditate, study Buddhist teachings, and support each other on our paths to sobriety and peace”
• The Temper: Sober Communities Beyond AA: “now offering online recovery support groups seven times daily at 7AM, 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, 6PM, 9PM, and 11PM EST. We are also offering one daily family and loved one recovery support meeting at 8PM EST; and a weekly LGBTQ+ (Wed at 11AM EST) and Women’s Only (Tue & Thurs at 7PM EST) all recovery meeting”

Support Groups: Specific Types of Substance or Behavior

• AA Worldwide (AA)
• AA Online Meetings (A/V-specific AA Meetings)
• Online Group AA Meetings
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Narcotics Anonymous by Phone
• Heroin Anonymous (HA): current list of online meetings is HERE.
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA): specific link for online meetings is HERE.
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA): includes phone & online meeting support, searchable HERE.
• Crystal Meth Anonymous
• Gamblers Anonymous (GA) *this one has a phone line, but not online meetings*
• Over Eaters Anonymous (OA)

Support Groups: Mental Health and Substance Use

• Dual Recovery: Dual Diagnosis Support “The primary purpose of DRA is to help one another achieve dual recovery, to prevent relapse, and to carry the message of recovery to others who experience dual disorders.” editor note: it is not clear that this group has online or phone meetings. Let me know if you determine more (skertesz@uabmc.edu)
• Double Trouble: Dual Diagnosis Support. This has information but is not a meeting source, on my review (skertesz@uabmc.edu)

Medication Assisted Recovery

• National Alliance for Medicated Assisted Recovery (NAMA): advocacy for methadone treatment. Not primarily for support groups
• Medicated Assisted Recovery Anonymous (MARA): Support group meetings including multiple Zoom-facilitated meetings a week!
• Medication Assisted Recovery Services (MARS): Training and consulting for peer-assisted services, rather than support meetings for users in recovery.

Support Groups for Families & Friends

• Al-Anon Electronic Meeting List: includes online meetings. “Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem.”
• Nar-Anon Chat: chat room for families & friends on Monday: 9 pm EST, Thursday: 9pm EST and Saturday: 8:30pm EST
• Nar-Anon Family Groups: ‘for families and friends of persons with narcotic addiction”. The site offers in-person meetings.
• SMART Recovery: “Our mutual support meetings are free and open to anyone seeking science-based, self-empowered addiction recovery.” This link includes groups and online forums for families & friends
• Celebrate Recovery: “Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind.” This link has a meeting-finder by location, but I don’t see online or phone-based meetings
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family Support Group: Offers virtual and in-person support meetings for families, that vary by location.