Opening Statement & Group Ground Rules For SMART Recovery Meetings

Описание: Hello, my name is Stefan Neff. Welcome to this meeting of SMART Recovery. SMART stands for “Self-Management And Recovery Training.”

This is a mutual support meeting where, through open and confidential discussion, we help each other and ourselves with recovery from any type of addictive behaviour. We view addictive behaviour as our own responsibility and the result of the choices we have made.

If we have chosen to maintain addictive behaviour, it is possible we can also choose to stop it. We discourage the use of labels such as alcoholics and addicts in our meetings.

Our approach uses self-empowering skills to help you build and maintain motivation for change; cope with urges and cravings; manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours; and living a balanced lifestyle.

These changes will take the three PPP’s patience, practice and persistence. At this SMART meeting, we support one another in learning and practicing the principles of SMART so we can make the changes we believe will improve our lives.

Our meetings are 90-minutes long and consist of check-in, agenda-setting, discussion, checkout, and passing the hat for donations. There is no fee for our meetings, but any donation is appreciated. If this is your first meeting, you are welcome to join in the discussion or just listen if you prefer.

Can I ever use moderately again? Chemical dependence is a continuum, not an either-or. Most addicted people do bounce back and forth between use and non-use. Ask yourself, has your experience been that you generally can’t use moderately after starting? If so, then that is your answer. From all we know, once a person has been severely addicted, the best answer is complete sobriety. Actually, complete sobriety is, in the end, the easiest method. Does permanent sobriety sound scary and unachievable? Sure, this is normal, but give that scare some time off to learn more, especially about what your own capabilities and desires are.

What makes people successful in releasing unwanted addictive behaviours? Scientific research has shown that the people who have successfully recovered regardless of the method all have 4 basic traits:
1. Commitment to sobriety
2. Change in lifestyle
3. They rehearse and plan for urges
4. Stay connected

SMART Recovery will show you how to reach each of these traits for success.

SMART Recovery Ground Rules

1. Allow others to make their own decisions but be responsible for your own behaviour and decisions. We regard the use of alcohol, other drugs or other potentially harmful behaviours as a personal matter. You are welcome to attend regardless of whether you are currently using or not.


2. All participants agree to confidentiality. So that everyone can feel safe to work on their issues, it is not permissible to tell anyone outside the group about who attended or what was said that might in any way identify any individual. Do not identify people as meeting attendees if you meet them outside the group. You may, of course, discuss the tools and techniques that you learn at meetings and how you are using them to promote your own recovery.


3. Participate actively if you like. Try not to hold side conversations, and stay focused on the group. Feel free to ask questions and to share ideas that have helped you or to just listen and observe. You stand to benefit more from participating actively. Be sure to give others time to participate, too. We encourage “cross-talk” but discourage drunk talk as well as participants giving an extended presentation about SMART Recovery® that may be suitable for a lecture but is too long for a meeting.


4. Show respect for all by not labelling others or using offensive language or behaviour. Threats, intimidation, violent behaviour, and possession of weapons are all grounds for being barred from meetings.


5. Our focus is on how to abstain. If you have a goal other than total life-long abstinence, that is your choice, but the groups’ focus remains on abstinence. Hopefully, what you learn will still be of help to you no matter what your chosen goal.


6. Participants benefit most by taking responsibility for their own recovery. No sponsorship or buddy system exists in SMART Recovery® (though these can be found in other groups). In our opinion, practicing what you learn at meetings on a daily basis and following through on self-imposed assignments best supports recovery.

7. Stay focused on SMART Tools And Process — gaining independence from harmful behaviours. We join together to work on ways to abstain from harmful addictive behaviours. Try to keep meetings friendly and full of fun, but focused on recovery.


8. Stay focused on (and use) the SMART Recovery® program. The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® has been developed by professionals based on the best research available and reviewed by an international panel of experts.