Support groups have become widespread mutual-aid societies that are able to bring a diverse group of people together based on common interests to share and support each other in their addiction recoveries. Since the emergence of the 12-Step support groups devised by Alcoholics Anonymous, these groups have become stepping stones for millions to live satisfying and meaningful lives.

Opiate Addiction

Opiates change the way the brain functions and when a person becomes addicted to them, the “high” they used to get when they started using opiates becomes harder and harder to achieve. Many addicts cannot recall the last time their use of opiates was enjoyable. Instead, the main goal becomes “staying well” or “finding normal” and it’s a daily drudgery to maintain this status. Their life no longer belongs to them, but, to the opiates and the preoccupations of obtaining more.

Opiate Addiction Recovery

Opiate addiction recovery begins with detox, and focuses on the individual’s needs and responsibility including the responsibility of accepting help. As fundamental goals of care, support groups are introduced and encouraged for strategic maintenance of long term recovery. According to NIDA, these groups can “help people achieve and maintain abstinence and other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.”

Mutual Support

Support groups are an essential part of recovery.

Support groups provide benefits to individuals and families in opiate addiction recovery that are natural, voluntary, sustainable, reciprocal, and on equal ground with those who have the common goals of addiction recovery. Opiate addiction recovery is a long term process and the mutual support you share with a support group, may be your ultimate life-line.

Honesty and Trust

Open and honest communications with others regarding concerns and recovery goals can be enlightening and motivational. These groups are not non-bureaucratic, non-commercial, and non-professional so you can trust that their interests rely solely on addiction recovery and helping others.

Reconstruction of Personal Identity, Family, and Social Relationships

Finding yourself again in opiate addiction recovery takes a lot of personal effort as well as stability and confidence in your relationships with those you care about. Families and employers may have become distressed and distrustful of you when you were using, but, these groups can help to open those closed doors; healing and moving forward to where you want to be.

Improve Your Coping Skills

The valuable knowledge and experiences that are shared in support groups can be opportunities to learn the best skills from those in recovery. No other treatment technique can encompass the real-life aspects of addiction to improve coping skills throughout the many phases of opiate addiction recovery.

Non-Judgmental Support from a Broad Range of Perspectives

Thesegroups involve people from all walks of life with a broad range of perspectives to help each other sort through the difficulties and provide non-judgmental support along the way. In order to remain vigilant in opiate addiction recovery, no-one should go down this path alone.