Substance Use Support Groups: Being an Active Member
Topic Overview
If you are in a self-help or group program, you can get more out of
the program by being an active member. Here are some suggestions that may help
you be more active in your group:
- Serve as a greeter at the meeting or arrive a few
minutes early and stay a few minutes late. This will give you a chance to talk
to people and get to know them and help them get to know you.
- When
you first join a group, introduce yourself. If you meet people you'd like to
know better, find out how to contact them outside of the
group.
- Help set up or clean up the meeting place. Offer to make
coffee for your group.
- Bring up a topic to discuss. Give feedback
on a topic based on your own experience.
- If you are asked, lead a
meeting, be a speaker, or be a reader. If you feel okay about it, ask if you
can do any of these.
- Celebrate your own and others' anniversaries
of being clean or sober.
- If you don't have a sponsor, ask someone
to be a temporary sponsor or to agree to help you with your
recovery. A sponsor has been in recovery for a long
time and helps you stay drug-free.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction
Christine R. Maldonado, PhD - Behavioral Health
Current as ofOctober 9, 2017
Current as of:
October 9, 2017