Support groups for individuals & families struggling with addiction

GET A confidential call

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction or mental health problems, request a call to speak with a knowledgeable treatment specialist.  There is no cost or obligation to enter treatment.

HELP FOR ME

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are free, peer-led 12-step groups open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking or using drugs. If you’re new, our guide on what to expect at your first AA or NA meeting walks through how a meeting runs. In central Indiana, Indianapolis Intergroup lists local AA meetings and the Central Indiana Area of NA lists NA meetings.

If 12-step programs aren’t a fit, 12-step alternatives such as SMART Recovery use a skills-based approach. Specialized groups also exist, including Marijuana Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous and, for people with co-occurring mental health conditions, Dual Recovery Anonymous. Regular attendance can support recovery by:

• Building confidence. Hearing from people with years of sobriety shows that long-term recovery is possible.
• Expanding your sober network. Members swap numbers and often become the people you call when cravings hit.
• Adding structure. A regular meeting gives your week a fixed point, which matters most in early recovery.
• Reinforcing what you learn in treatment. Groups pair well with cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and group therapy in an outpatient plan.

For more on how the steps work, read about the 12-step program and our tips to stay sober after rehab.

HELP FOR A LOVED ONE

Many families keep a loved one’s addiction private out of fear, shame or the belief that speaking up won’t change anything. Sometimes the person using asks you not to talk about it at all.

You don’t have to carry this alone. A loved one’s addiction is not your fault, and it says nothing about you as a parent, partner or friend. Family groups focus on your wellbeing, whether or not your loved one is ready for help. Our guides on how to help a recovering addict or alcoholic and supporting vs enabling cover what helps at home. When your loved one is ready, our admissions team can explain their options and next steps. Family support groups can help you:

• Learn the three Cs. You didn’t cause the addiction, you can’t control it and you can’t cure it.
• Connect with people who get it. Other members have lived through the same worry, conflict and setbacks.
• Set boundaries. Groups help you decide what you will and won’t do, and hold to it.
• Build resilience. Regular meetings give you steady support during hard stretches, including relapse.

Family therapy is another option when you want to work on the relationship with a clinician.