Making the decision to get clean and sober is not easy for anyone, but it is one of the most courageous decisions a person can make. With the right tools and resources, drug and alcohol addiction recovery is entirely possible. There is a wide variety of addiction recovery programs available today, one of which is known as SMART Recovery. Focusing on self-empowerment, SMART Recovery is a science-based program created to help addicts along their recovery journey.
What is SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery, which stands for Self-Management and Recovery training, is a program that helps its members overcome any type of substance abuse through self-empowerment. The program boasts an active and direct approach to change that is centered on the power of choice. The goal of SMART Recovery is to help its members become self-reliant and improve their whole in the long-run.
Unlike other recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery is completely secular and science based. SMART Recovery evolves with science and supports the use of medications, cognitive behavioral therapy (also known as CBT), and non-confrontational motivational methods. SMART Recovery can also be combined with other programs to ensure the greatest chance of success.
The History of SMART Recovery
Founded in 1994, SMART Recovery began, and is still, a non-profit organization operated by volunteers, both professionals and nonprofessionals. SMART Recovery is funded by selling publications, but most of its finances are from donations. There is no membership fee and it is free to join. Now, both the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Academy of Family Physicians have recognized SMART Recovery as an effective tool for overcoming addiction.
How does SMART Recovery work?
SMART is a self-empowering approach available to those struggling with addiction. Through cognitive behavioral and motivational enhancement therapies, participants are taught how to control their addictive behaviors. These skills are taught through the 4 point program.
The 4-Point Program
SMART Recovery focuses on 4 points to recover from addiction. Each point has their own tools and techniques to conquer it. It is important to note the difference between 4 points and 4 steps: these 4 points can be addressed in any particular order. The four points include:
Point 1: Building and Maintaining Motivation
The willingness to stay sober is an important part of recovery. This includes things like participants weighing out the costs and benefits of being sober.
Point 2: Coping with Urges
Participants will learn how to control their cravings through things like distraction techniques and identity irrational beliefs about substance abuse.
Point 3: Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
This step focuses on preventing relapse through thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how to deal with difficult emotions like depression and anxiety.
Point 4: Living a Balanced Life
Being sober means defining a new and healthy life balance. This point is very important for the long run and participants practice goal setting and how to plan for the future.
How to Participate
The four ways to participate in SMART recovery include:
Reading the website (www.smartrecovery.org)
Reading the publications
Participating in online meetings through the website with a message board and chat available 24/7
Participating in face to face meetings or starting your own
In meetings, the SMART tools for recovery are taught and explored, focusing on the four points. Many participants use a combination of the approaches that have been proven to succeed.
How is SMART Recovery different from AA?
Instead of focusing on a 12 step program, SMART Recovery only focuses on the 4 points outlined above. Beliefs such as the presence of a higher power to guide your recovery are not present in SMART Recovery and SMART Recovery is a completely secular and non-religious program. One of the main differences is that SMART Recovery does not encourage their participants to admit powerless over their addiction; SMART Recovery empowers individuals to take control back in their lives.
Another crucial difference is that in the SMART Recovery program, they do not use the label “addict,” which they consider discouraging and also do not take a stance on whether or not addiction is a disease. Also, in this program an individual can “graduate” from the process to begin their new healthy life with their new tools, meaning the journey to recovery is not a lifelong process. If you would rather approach recovery with the mindset that you have the power to take control, instead of submitting to a higher power like with AA, SMART Recovery is the program for you.
There are as many correct paths to recovery as there are individuals who need help. As stated in the SMART Recovery handbook, “what works for one person in one situation may not work for another in the same situation.” There are no a bad options, the key is just finding out which option is the best choice for you.
Would you like to learn more about recovery programs? We are here for you and we are here to help.