Online meetings for addicts are a great alternative to traditional face-to-face support groups. Whether you’re in AA or NA, or another group, an online meeting can help you grow relationships and build your recovery.
Despite the benefits, it is important to remember that people may not be as honest in online support groups as they are in face-to-face meetings. This is especially true for those who are struggling with addiction or alcohol abuse.
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Convenience
Online meetings are a convenient way to stay connected with your sober support network if you’re traveling, sick or otherwise unable to attend in-person sessions. They can also be a great starting point for those new to recovery who are looking for an easy way to connect with sober peers.
In addition to providing a more convenient option for meeting with sober peers, online meetings can provide an excellent resource for those with disabilities and health issues. They may be especially beneficial for people who have limited transportation, lack childcare, or are caring for an elderly loved one.
While there’s been some research about the effectiveness of online mutual-help meetings, more research is needed to determine the long-term benefits of using these resources for addiction recovery. Generally, active involvement in mutual-help group activities and developing recovery supportive social networks seem to be the most effective way to achieve substance related outcomes, and these types of connections may be harder to develop online.
Accessibility
Online meetings are a convenient way to connect with a group of people in recovery. They can help you meet others with similar experiences and build relationships that will support you throughout your journey.
While these online meetings are great for those who live in remote areas or who can’t physically get to a meeting, they also present challenges that must be addressed. For example, accessibility is a big concern for video platforms like Zoom, which often experience connection problems.
For these reasons, it’s important to make sure your online meetings are accessible for everyone who wants to attend. For instance, create slides in a format that can be read by people with visual or learning disabilities, offer real-time captioning for Deaf or hard of hearing participants, and provide meeting facilitation services that will help ensure the meeting runs smoothly.
Community
Community is an important aspect of addiction recovery. It helps people develop a sense of belonging, trust, and safety in their environments.
When people in recovery are isolated, this feeling can increase their risk for relapse. Online mutual-help meetings can address this problem by providing individuals with ongoing connections and support.
They can also provide concerned family members and friends with tools to support their loved one without directly supporting their alcohol or drug use. Using these resources helps them better understand the situation and reduce their own anxiety.
During COVID-19, when the communities that help addicts were closing because of the coronavirus, online meetings allowed people to stay connected with their group and continue receiving support. These online support groups can provide valuable information, stories, and advice from people who have experienced a similar struggle.
Information
Many 12-step organizations, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), offer online meetings for addicts who are unable to attend in-person sessions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many venues that host AA and NA meetings were locked down, so more people began to access online meetings.
While online recovery support is growing in popularity, there are some concerns about it. Firstly, some users may not have internet or cell phone coverage when they’re trying to use the service.
Second, there is a risk that members may be bullied or harassed. Thankfully, many online forums have moderators to address these issues.
The main benefits of online recovery meetings are convenience, privacy and flexibility. These advantages are especially useful for those who are traveling, sick, have physical disabilities or are unable to find a meeting in their area.