Recovery is not a path with a precise ending, but a continuing journey where, from first faltering step to years of keeping alcohol and drugs out of your life, you need support every step of the way. Peer support and group therapy is often an invaluable tool for recovery, and Alcoholics Anonymous, better known as AA, and Narcotics Anonymous, shortened to NA for members, is a crucial source of that help. AA and NA members support each other as they seek sobriety, work through challenges, and make positive changes in their lives.
Peer support is often part of addiction recovery programs in Englewood, Florida. So, finding the right AA or NA meeting is often top of the list for any person in recovery. If you are looking for peer support, here is what you need to know about AA and NA.
AA Meetings in Englewood, Florida
AA arose from the direct failure of campaigns to remove alcohol from American life. That movement, called Temperance, had valid concerns about alcohol addiction, damage to bodily health, and the strain on family and emotional connections, but it climaxed with the Prohibition movement, which banned alcohol in the 1920s. Not only did alcoholism not stop, one of the worst social effects of Prohibition was that it forced alcoholics into hiding, and into association with organized crime figures.
AA was founded in 1935 with an alternative philosophy. Instead of a private clinic for the rich and educated, AA would be a peer support group open to all. Instead of paying for treatment, it would be free. Instead of being based around medical or psychological training, it would be built around a “twelve-step” program, spiritual in nature, leading alcoholics through the steps of confronting they had a problem and making amends for the damage that problem had caused them and those they loved.
AA has changed since its founding, but it has not strayed far from its principles. AA members are expected to work on themselves, listen and respect others, and have an open mind, and the twelve steps and other guidelines are a structure around which to build meetings. AA is built for maximum flexibility so that leaders and groups are free to give each other the support they need.
Finding AA Meetings Near Me
One of the motivations behind emphasizing self-awareness is to understand what will most assist you in terms of group therapy and peer support. For example, meetings that are run by a professional, such as a substance abuse counselor or a psychiatric professional, will be focused not just on substance abuse but also the problems behind it. People dealing with emotional distress or mental illness may use alcohol to self-medicate.
In addition to what you need on a support level, you should also consider what you need on a practical level. Is the meeting close by, where you can attend? Do you feel that you can attend meetings with a level of privacy with which you are most comfortable? How well do you get along with the leaders and the members of the group?
Most meetings will have contact information available and literature that describes their focus and approach. You should look at this literature closely and contact the leadership of a meeting to determine if that meeting is best for you. It is also possible to “audition” a meeting to see if it is a good fit for your needs.
Lemon Bay Beginners Group
Englewood United Methodist Church
700 E. Dearborn St.
Englewood, FL 34223
Daily Reflections
Lemon Bay Park
570 Bay Park Blvd.
Englewood, FL 34223
You can find other Englewood AA meetings on the Alcoholics Anonymous website.
NA Meetings In Englewood, Florida
In 1953, it became clear that a rising number of both legally available medications and a growing illegal drugs industry created entirely new concerns around both substance abuse and peer support. NA was formed out of a decision that a separate group would be better to address these concerns and offer those dealing with substance abuse the best possible support.
Due to its origins, NA and AA share many similarities. Both use the twelve step framework; both cultivate self-awareness, open-mindedness, and respect; and both have a multitude of approaches depending on both the leader of the group and the membership of a particular meeting. One difference is that NA meetings can both generally approach addiction and be more narrowly focused on a specific substance, depending on the meeting and the needs of its members.
Finding NA Meetings Near Me
Just like AA, the best meeting for you will depend on your needs both for group support and for the group itself. Those just beginning in recovery, for example, may prefer a meeting led by a counselor, as that may tie into their experience in a rehabilitation facility, or simply may offer better options. These can also be concrete; some people prefer to attend meetings that are drive accessible, but are not close to work or family, so as to maintain privacy. Regardless, the right meeting will mean an easier path to recovery.
Narcotics Anonymous
1160 S. McCall Rd.
Englewood, FL 34223
Narcotics Anonymous
Bay Harbor Ford Building
1908 S. McCall Rd.
Englewood, FL 34223
If you want more options for meeting locations in the area, you can find groups by zip-code on the Narcotics Anonymous website.
The Recovery Village knows that peer support is an essential part of successful recovery. AA and NA meetings, along with other 12-step programs, are incorporated in our comprehensive addiction treatment plans. Reach out today to discover the power of peer support in the Englewood area.