Author Archive
LifeRing Offers “Dual Diagnosis” Recovery Support Group Online
06 May 2013
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Sometimes those seeking sobriety also suffer from emotional and mental challenges that can make recovery more difficult. LifeRing Secular Dual Recovery — the latest addition to LifeRing’s E-mail Group offerings — is a safe place to discuss those highly personal issues among people who may not share the particular problem, but who understand what it’s like to deal with life-limiting issues in addition to addiction. Whether the difficulty is depression, or anxiety, or some other emotional/psychological challenge, the members of this group will listen and respond with positive and supportive messages. If interested, contact Heather W. and mention Dual Recovery in the subject line
Survey Results Highlight the Cost of Addiction and the Benefits of Recovery
26 April 2013
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“The results from the first nationwide survey of persons in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs released today by Faces & Voices of Recovery documents the heavy costs of addiction to the individual and the nation and for the first time, measures and quantifies the effects of recovery over time.” That’s the opening of an article about the results of a survey of people in recovery sponsored by “Faces and Voices of Recovery,” a national organization attempting to “mobilize the recovery community to advocate for recovery and help more Americans overcome addiction to alcohol and other drugs.”
The study’s finding include results such as:
– 50% of respondents in recovery had lost jobs or been suspended at some point in their drinking/using career;
– 50% had been arrested at least once with a third having been incarcerated;
– The total nationwide societal cost comes to an estimated $300+ billion.
For those in recovery, the results are strikingly different:
– a 90% decrease in involvement with the criminal justice system;
– a 50% increase in the persons involvement in family activities; and
– participation in volunteer activities more than doubled, while voting in public elections increased by almost 50%.
The study, of over 3000 persons involved in recovery, was of a relatively small cross-section of the estimated 23,000,000 Americans in recovery. But such studies are rare and the findings of this one are important. Read more and get a link to the complete study by clicking HERE.
Using the LifeRing approach to Quit Smoking and Tobacco; New Meeting
25 April 2013
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A new LifeRing meeting aimed at supporting people in their effort to quit smoking will start early next month in Oakland. The meeting will follow the basic LifeRing for
mat and use sections of the LifeRing Recovery by Choice Workbook.
Anna L. will convene the meeting at the Kaiser Chemical Dependency Recovery Program (CDRP), 969 Broadway, Oakland, CA. The meetings will be weekly on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. starting May 3rd. The meeting location is just a few blocks from the LifeRing Service Center and hosts a number of LifeRing meetings aimed both at those going through the CDRP program and members from outside the CDRP. The convenor is a veteran of LifeRing meetings in Oakland and San Leandro, CA, and is a former smoker. Contact her at astarrlibet@yahoo.com
The LifeRing approach is centered on addicts helping one another by sharing their successes and challenges with others like them. There is no “program” as such, but each member is encouraged to develop their own program — their own lists of things that help and things that hurt. We learn from each other and exchange our thoughts in a sober, adult environment, one ‘sober self’ talking to another ‘sober self.’
New Developments in the LifeRing Election Contest
21 April 2013
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There are now four seats open on the LifeRing Board of Directors. Troy Spears, a Modesto, CA, member. has announced his decision to step down from the BOD before the end of his term. This means that the current five candidates will be vying for four seats in the election that begins at the LifeRing Congress on June 2 in Denver. The fourth place finisher will serve out the rest of Troy’s term while the top three take the three full-term spots. Others may, of course, enter the race. We strongly urge anyone still considering running to let the Service Center know that they’re interested by May 15 – an email to service@lifering.org will suffice nicely and the office will respond with a simple form to fill out giving very basic information so that we know how to contact you.
We have a page on this website for use by candidates to make clear why they’re running and for interested members to make comments or ask questions. Four candidates are using the pages, which can be accessed at http://lifering.org/lifering-election-central/. Those four are Mahala Kephart, Jeff Koch, Joe Mott and Tim Reith. The other announced candidate, Bob Omohundro, has opted not to have his own page at this time but has been posting comments on the pages of the other candidates.
We’re having some technical problems with the comment system, so please bear with us — if your comment disappears into the ether, send a copy to cswhalley@lifering.org and he’ll be sure it gets posted ASAP
LifeRing Candidates, Members Invited to Share Views
10 April 2013
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A page on this website has been created for candidates and members to give their view on the upcoming election for three Board Of Director seats. It is hoped that each candidate will submit a comment on that page giving what they consider their qualifications and relevant experience, or anything else they consider appropriate. And all members are invited to give their views and preferences. It is hoped that a degree of civility will be maintained.
So far, there are five announced candidates for the three open positions. Unofficially (the list of candidates could change before it is firmly set), the candidates are, in alphabetical order: Mahala K., Jeff K., Joe M., Bob O., and Tim R. Board members usually use their full names in public, but candidates are not required to do so. If candidates would like a snapshot to accompany their initial introduction, that can be arranged (I think).
So all are urged to check LifeRing Election Central to read about the candidates