What is SMART Recovery?
Who SMART Recovery is for
SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is designed for any individual who suffers from an addiction. SMART Recovery is scientifically based and uses scientific research and methods at helping people gain the knowledge they need to remain free from their addictions. SMART Recovery is not as well known as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) but it is also a free program that is specifically designed to help a person live a drug or alcohol free life.
What is SMART Recovery and how does it help?
SMART recovery provides an individual with methods in understanding their behavior better, and ways in which the person can control their behavior while learning self-acceptance and knowledge about their self.
SMART Recovery is extremely different from AA as it is not a 12 step program nor is it designed to be a support group, although there are meetings available to people who wish to join them.
According to SMART Recovery’s website, SMART Recovery differs from AA or NA because it has a scientific foundation and not a spiritual one, and unlike AA or NA SMART Recovery teaches increasing self-reliance rather than powerlessness. In addition, SMART Recovery meetings are environments where members talk with one another, rather than to one another. Furthermore, SMART Recovery does not use terms such as alcoholic or addict.
SMART recovery uses a Four Point System to help individuals with their addiction struggles. Their Four Point System is designed to help a person to manage their thoughts and behaviors while learning to cope with urges and live a balanced life.
Benefits of SMART Recovery
One of the best benefits of SMART Recovery is that a person can access the tools and Four Point System completely in the comforts of their own home through the internet. A person chooses whether they wish to meet with other members of the program in their city or if they wish to have discussions online with other members. Another benefit of the program is that it is free to those who wish to utilize its resources and it is completely anonymous if a person wishes to keep their identity hidden from others. In addition, SMART Recovery does not incorporate religion into its program at all and a person, whether religious or not, can join the program without ever having to express their religious beliefs.
SMART Recovery uses scientific methods to help their members overcome their addictions, methods that have been proven to help people, and since it is completely free, a person struggling with addiction can receive the benefits from the program at their own pace and for as long as they like.