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Recovery Organizations
We were all profoundly affected by the dysfunction in our families of origin, whether alcohol was present in the home or not. Consequently, we developed a set of “laundry list” traits that helped us survive that experience. These traits may have been adaptive at the time but may now disrupt our lives. ACA is a 12 Step program that focuses on emotional sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem. It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a a drinking problem or seeks help. Alateen, a part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a fellowship of young people (mostly teenagers) whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By attending Alateen, teenagers meet others with similar situations. Alateen is not a religious program and there are no fees or dues to belong. Bettors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from a gambling problem. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)is a fellowship of people whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and loving relationships. Debtors Anonymous (DA) is a twelve-step fellowship for people seeking to stop compulsive debting, overspending, and under-earning . Based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, DA provides a support network to help members find financial stability through meetings, tools, and shared experience. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) is a nonprofessional, 12-step self-help organization for individuals with a "dual diagnosis"—specifically, the co-occurrence of chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. Founded in 1989, it provides peer support to help members manage both illnesses simultaneously, promoting a lifestyle free of alcohol/drugs and improved mental health. Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a 12-step peer support fellowship designed to help individuals recover from various emotional difficulties and improve their mental well-being. Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, it provides a safe, confidential space for people to share experiences regarding anxiety, depression, anger, grief, and other emotional issues. Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is an international fellowship of people who have a compulsive gambling problem. They meet regularly to share their "experiences, strength and hope", so they can help each other solve the problems compulsive gambling has created in their lives, and to help others recover from the addiction of compulsive gambling. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. Heroin Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from heroin addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop suffering from heroin addiction. Heroin Anonymous is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of heroin addicts who turn to us for help.
Narcotics Anonymous is a "nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. Narcotics Anonymous uses a 12-step model developed for people with varied substance use disorders and is the second-largest 12-step organization, after 12-step pioneer Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else's addiction. As a Twelve-Step Program, we offer our help by sharing our experience, strength, and hope. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend.
Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength, and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self- supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology, or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.) is a 12-step, peer-support fellowship for individuals recovering from compulsive, destructive patterns of sexual, romantic, or emotional addiction. Open to all regardless of gender or orientation, it helps members break free from behaviors like codependency, fantasy obsession, and sexual/emotional "anorexia". ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a U.S. federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the nation's behavioral health . Established in 1992, it provides funding, data, and resources for mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Faces & Voices of Recovery is a leading non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to reducing stigma, changing public perception, and advocating for policies that support people in recovery from addiction. It organizes, trains, and mobilizes the recovery community to promote long-term recovery, offering peer support services, advocacy, and educational resources. Faith Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that equips faith communities to prevent substance misuse and support addiction recovery. It bridges faith and science by training congregational teams to offer spiritual and social support, fostering, and creating healthier communities. Episcopal Health Ministries (EHM) and related Episcopal health programs are initiatives aimed at integrating spiritual care with physical health, often through parish nursing, health education, and outreach to underserved communities. They focus on holistic wellness—addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs—and range from congregational health teams to larger foundations and mobile medical ministries. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is a U.S. federal agency within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that leads research on the causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems. It is the world's largest funder of alcohol research, aiming to reduce the public health burden of alcohol misuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a United States federal government research institute whose mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. National Recovery Month is an annual, SAMHSA-recognized September observance aimed at increasing awareness of mental health and substance use disorders, celebrating individuals in recovery, and promoting evidence-based treatment. It highlights that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, and recovery is possible. |
TWELVE STEP GROUPS