Drug Addicts Anonymous

What is Drug Addicts Anonymous?

What is Substance Use Disorder?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) [1] defines substance use disorders (SUDs) as the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs that causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet primary responsibilities at work, school, or home.

Substance use disorders describe both illicit or illegal substances and the misuse of legal substances like alcohol, nicotine, or prescription drugs. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,

Fifth Edition (DSM-5) outlines eleven symptoms of SUDs:

1. Having a persistent wish to stop using the substance and/or continuously trying to reduce or control substance use
2. Continuing to use the substance despite knowing that a physical or psychological health issue was likely caused or worsened by the substance
3. Using the substance in larger amounts or over a long time period than originally intended
4. Exhibiting withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance
5. Spending a significant amount of time trying to obtain the substance, use it, or recover from using it
6. Stopping or decreasing social, work-related, or recreational activities due to substance use
7. Building up a tolerance, where a larger amount of the substance is needed to experience an effect
8. Having a strong urge to use the substance
9. Continuing to use even when it causes an inability to fulfill work, school, or home-related responsibilities
10. Continuing to use the substance even when it causes interpersonal problems or makes them worse
11. Continuing to use the substance even in situations that are risky or physically dangerous

The most common types of substance use disorders in the U.S. involve the use of one or more of the following substances:

Alcohol – Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, wet brain, and alcohol liver damage, and hypertension and can cause health issues related to acute alcohol intoxication behaviors and withdrawal. Criteria for diagnosis include an inability to control alcohol intake, developing a tolerance, and/or developing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Opioids – In recent years, the U.S. has seen a dramatic increase in opioid addiction, which are substances used to relieve pain in healthcare settings. Opioids work by binding to receptors in the brain or body to reduce pain signals going to the brain. Opioids include prescription drugs such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), codeine, morphine, as well as illegal substances like heroin. Misusing opioids can lead to physical dependence, severe respiratory depression, and even death.

Stimulants – Stimulants include amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine. Stimulants increase alertness, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. Misuse can lead to overly elevated body temperature, seizures, and heart failure, as well as psychological symptoms like hostility and psychosis.

Hallucinogens – Hallucinogens are substances that distort perceptions of reality and cause hallucinations. Hallucinogenic substances include chemically synthesized substances like MDMA (also known as Ecstasy), phencyclidine (PCP), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), as well as naturally occurring substances like psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, or mescaline.

The 12 Steps of Drug Addicts Anonymous

Here are the 12 Steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

1. We admitted we were powerless over narcotics and all other mind altering substances – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all theses defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to drug addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

How to Find Drug Addicts Anonymous Meetings

What Happens at Drug Addicts Anonymous or Substance Abuse Anonymous Meetings?

Drug Anonymous meetings for drug addiction can complement the effects of professional rehabilitation treatment. They provide additional forms of help for drug addiction or any other type of SUD. Most rehab facilities encourage their patients to participate in DAA meetings during and after treatment.

DAA meetings offer struggling individuals readily available community-based resources for free. This is a way to provide help to drug users with no insurance or money and individuals who might benefit from being in a community of supportive people who have had their own issues with SUD.

What Can I Expect at a Drug Addicts Anonymous or Substance Abuse Anonymous Meeting?

Substance Abuse Anonymous meetings tend to vary a bit, as they are directed by the local members. However, the basics behind them stay the same, as most people inside the room have gone through the same struggles.

During the meeting, the participants share their stories in an open discussion. Often, there is a topic that serves as the foundation behind this discussion.

‘Newcomers’ will usually be asked to introduce themselves, using only their first name to stay anonymous. After that, many participants with similar stories will come to support the new participants and help them open up and reflect on the underlying reasons behind their addiction.

What are the Benefits of Drug Addicts Anonymous or Substance Abuse Anonymous Group?

DAA meetings and groups can provide many benefits to participants. Substance Abuse Anonymous groups show some level of clinical effectiveness. For instance, 42.3% of participants who participated in a survey that explored DAA benefits stated that they found DAA meetings helpful.

The same study showed that regular attendance of DAA meetings for three years or more was 4.1 to 8.6 times more likely to sustain abstinence than people who don’t participate in such programs.

Overall, a significant number of individuals reported feeling the benefits of being a part of a group of sober people. While a combination of medical treatment and Alcoholics or Addicts Anonymous meetings seems to provide the best outcome, a 12-steps program can help its members remain abstinent from illicit substances.

Where Can I Attend Drug Addicts Anonymous or Substance Abuse Anonymous Meetings Near Me? 

There are many Drug Anonymous meetings nationwide held every day, many times a day. Some organizations, such as AA, NA, and Al-Anon, have downloadable applications that will let you know where you can find a Drug Anonymous meeting near you.

Other than downloading apps, you might try the old-fashion way and look up a phone number in the local telephone book, white pages, or online. Next to AA, CA, and NA, you might also try to find these organizations:

• Celebrate Recovery
• Chemical Dependent Anonymous
• Crystal Meth Anonymous
• Dual Recovery Anonymous
• Marijuana Anonymous
• Moderation Management
• Pills Anonymous
• Women for Sobriety

Some of these groups might even arrange an online group meeting via video call. However, most meetings are held in locations such as treatment centers, churches, or other similar facilities that tend to be affordable, convenient, and available.