There's no single “right” program

Connection is one of the strongest protectors in recovery, and support groups are one of the easiest ways to find it. But people are different, and so are groups. The best program is the one you'll actually keep going back to. Here's a program-neutral look at the main options so you can find your fit.

The main types of groups

• 12-Step (AA, NA, CA, GA, etc.): the most widely available, free, peer-led, spiritually framed, and built around sponsorship and the twelve steps. Meetings almost everywhere, in person and online.
• SMART Recovery: secular and science-based, using cognitive-behavioral tools and a self-empowerment approach rather than steps or a higher power.
• Refuge Recovery / Recovery Dharma: Buddhist-inspired, using mindfulness and meditation as the path.
• LifeRing: secular, abstinence-based, focused on your own “sober self” rather than a set program.
• Women for Sobriety: designed around the specific needs and experiences of women in recovery.

How to choose

1. Try several. Visit a few different groups — and a few different meetings within the same program, since each has its own personality.
2. Notice how you feel after. A good fit leaves you feeling a little lighter and less alone, even on a hard night.
3. Don't judge a program by one meeting. Give any group a few visits before deciding.
4. Mix and match. Many people combine a group with therapy, an online community, and their own routines.

Online counts too

If getting to a meeting is hard, online and text-based communities are real support. The goal is simply this: don't do recovery alone.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).