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Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATSย
SMART Recovery stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. Like AA, the goal of SMART Recovery is to support people in their recovery. It teaches people how to move forward after addiction treatment. This is accomplished through encouraging self-empowerment.
The program is based on current scientific knowledge of addiction. It's committed to evolving as researchers learn more about addiction recovery.
Some of the main topics covered in the SMART recovery include:
While the most known program is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), this faith-based program doesnโt work for everyone. SMART Recovery is a secular, not-for-profit organization for those struggling with addiction.
SMART Recovery is different, with a foundation based on self-empowerment and self-reliance. Meetings encourage participants to talk with each other, rather than to each other. They do not allow certain labels, such as โalcoholicโ or โaddict.โ
Instead, this program focuses on recovery and how to make self-directed positive changes.
Rational Recovery is another secular addiction recovery program that focuses on abstinence through self-autonomy.
The 4-Point Program is the foundation of SMART Recovery, with the goal of helping people gain independence from addiction.
The four points are:
When a person makes the decision to enter detox and recovery, they do so with a motivation for change. The goal of this step is to focus on ways to motivate oneself to maintain sobriety.
SMART Recovery understands that urges and triggers are a natural part of recovery.
The goal of the program is to help people recognize urges and learn healthy coping mechanisms.
This includes:
How you feel about addiction and yourself plays a major role in your recovery.
SMART Recovery focuses on helping people identify negative beliefs and shifting to a more positive outlook. It also works with members to better deal with negative emotions and increase self-acceptance.
Long-term sobriety requires life changes.
While this includes abstinence from alcohol, it also means:
SMART Recovery offers many different recovery techniques and tools to help people through the recovery process. These tools help them work through the four points of the program.
SMART Recovery face-to-face meetings are open to the public and free. (A hat is passed around for donations). There are also online SMART meetings.
They usually run for 90 minutes and follow this outline:
In addition to face-to-face and daily online meetings, some of these tools and techniques include:
In addition, the SMART Recovery website offers a variety of different worksheets and homework assignments designed to help throughout every stage of recovery.
The program focuses on the present day. Meetings help people understand self-destructive behavior, how to positively address it, and move forward.
You can sign up for SMART Recovery by attending a meeting. Meetings are held at a variety of times, both in-person and online.
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