Here’s a story from John D. about recent happenings at the LifeRing meeting he convenes in Clayton, CA. It’s a story to gladden the heart of all LifeRingers:
I am writing to share a heartwarming story. Two months ago, I started a new meeting at Diablo Valley Ranch, in Clayton CA., which is a sixty man plus live-in treatment facility. Continue reading
LifeRing member Mona H., who also serves as our East Coast Coordinator of Outreach, has been using a combination of old and new technology to provide a new way for members to meet together and support one another. Using an Internet conference call website, interested members can dial a number on their telephone to get to the website’s automated system, and then enter a code to become part of the group call. Regular long-distance rates apply, but there is no extra charge for it being a conference call. Continue reading
Here’s a quotation from a book entitled “Echoes of the Early Tides” by Tony Moore (Harper Collins, 1994) that I found very impressive and want to share:
“The strengths offered by mutual support groups do not promise certain
recovery; they simply provide for the prospect of gradual change. There are
no simple solutions to the lifelong practices of self-harm. The experiences
of those who have modified intractable habits into manageable life patterns
include a few basic truths: personal vigilance against self-harming ways
must be lifelong; relapses are always waiting patiently to reassert
destructiveness if anyone takes recovery for granted; the way back from each
relapse becomes progressively more difficult; and there is no protection
available for someone who “doesn’t care” or gives up.
As members of such groups know, the effective approach is . . . interested
only in ending pretense, the pretense that “I always manage” and “I can
cope”. It recognizes that the shortest distance between two emotional
point is the truth, and that gentleness toward oneself and others is not an
expression of weakness. . . . members strive to offer goodwill that is
unconditional and tenderness free of gender plays. When loners who share
the same specific sense of difference come together, the bond created can
have the pure beauty of a blessing.”
Michael W., from LifeRing Canada, passes on the link to an interesting article in The Guardian, a major English newspaper (see here). The article is about SMART Recovery, an alternative to AA that focuses on teaching its member CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) techniques to resist the urge to drink. The event that led to the publicity came from a grant from a British government agency which is actively seeking to encourage AA alternatives.
September 2010 will be the 21st annual Recovery Month (www.recoverymonth.gov) observance by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). Recovery Month serves to educate the public on how alcohol and drug addiction is a national health issue, a treatable illness, and that recovery is possible.
This will be the first year that LifeRing has actively participated in Recovery Month. So far, we are participating in 10 cities and 13 major community events across the nation. You can view the list of events in which LifeRing will be participating at http://lifering.org/recovery-month/.
Thanks to all those who have agreed to coordinate and staff events in each city, and to LifeRing Recovery Month Committee Co-Chairs Lynn Cullens and Liz Gibson, Outreach Coordinator Kathleen G., and Northeast Regional Representative Mona H., who have been working hard to prepare.
Please consider donating your time as a volunteer or organizer in your local area, or donating funding for printing LifeRing brochures and flyers. See more about how you can contribute, at http://lifering.org/recovery-month/please-volunteer/ or email RecoveryMonth@LifeRing.org or phone 916-606-1610 to volunteer, make a donation, or simply get more information.
Book Review: Bonnie Benard: Resiliency, What We Have Learned.
I came across this book while staffing a LifeRing table at a conference of teachers and other educators devoted to prevention and treatment of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among students. Continue reading
Bob O. from Sacramento writes: I will be starting a new meeting at the Kaiser Chemical Dependency Recovery Program, 2829 Watt Avenue, Suite 150, Room 2, Sacramento, Ca. every Tuesday at 7:30PM. The room is wheelchair accessible. The first meeting will be September 7, 2010. For more information contact Bob.
A recent article in the Washington Post will be of interest to many here. It takes AA to task for being ineffective and sees no real purpose for the entire Rehab industry. The author does accept the ‘illness’ concept and is a University of Virginia psychiatrist with ties to the pharmaceutical industry. But he is largely dismissive of the 12-step approach and cites some revealing studies. See it here. The article starts by recounting the news that Lindsay Lohan is beginning her 4th stint in rehab. Continue reading
Philip H. from Belfast writes: Just to let you know. I have been in contact with Dennis S in Dublin with a view to starting Lifering meetings in Belfast Northern Ireland. I have the necessary clean and sober time.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Lifering in Northern Ireland. We have come out of many years of conflict,and there is an air of peace and reconciliation. Lifering will appeal to the non-denominational cross-community mind set which is slowly bearing fruit. Continue reading
Adam from Victoria writes: The women’s meeting at Victoria Pacific Rim Alliance Church at 1792 Townley Street in Victoria will not meet during August. An announcement will be made when the meeting resumes. For more information please contact Adam at adam@liferingcanada.org.