Subject: News & Views: September 2021

September is Recovery Month

Pathways to Recovery Virtual Walk

A Walk to Save Lives

Join us September 24-26 for our first-ever, nationwide Pathways to Recovery walk. This virtual event is sure to provide a day of reflection, exercise, and fun. In addition, your fundraising efforts will enable us to help more people who are on the path to recovery find Life Beyond Addiction.

The last day to register is Thursday, September 23^rd.

Life Beyond Addiction

Christopher Sullivan

Hello! My name is Christopher Sullivan and I am recovering from my father’s alcoholism. The countless nights of grief and regret, of feeling like I could have prevented my father’s passing if I was more knowledgeable on addiction, led me to seek help from SMART Recovery. SMART is helping me to fully understand what he was going through and discover ways in which I can help those who are experiencing what he went through. What was once complete ignorance on the topic of addiction is now a sense of understanding and acceptance. I still have a ways to go in terms of learning about addiction and recovery, but I just know SMART will guide me through my life beyond my father’s addiction.

Please note: although SMART actively seeks to refrain from using labels like “addict” and “alcoholic,” we recognize that when others describe their experience they may choose to do so. Thank you for understanding.

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Guest Blog by Christopher Sullivan

When Alcohol Wins, Everyone Loses

Most people in recovery do so for themselves; because they want to take back control of their lives. And rightfully so. You should be recovering for yourself. But, it may also be important to consider how your recovery gives life to those you love.

In my case, I watched my father give in to alcohol each day. Instead of standing by my father’s side, I felt like more of a bystander. I wanted to be by him every step of the way, but my hands were tied: at least that’s what I told myself. Being fresh into high school, my worry and anxiety towards my dad’s well-being took a backseat. Yet, it was not long until the message-less nights and the alarming Instagram posts started to remind me of the severity of his addiction. 1-0 alcohol. I would call him until I knew his voicemail by heart, and I would text him until, no matter how far I scrolled, the only color I saw was blue. Once in a while I would get a text saying, “I’m okay”, but I saw through that. Yet I still did nothing.

Continue reading Christopher's story...

Tips & Tools for Recovery That Works

Advanced Strategies for Coping with Urges

Tips & Tools Episodes are now in 4K! You won't want to miss this special edition of SMART Recovery's popular YouTube series which can help anyone in their successful recovery journey.

In today's episode we discuss Advanced Strategies to overcome urges and how to move beyond avoidance in order to live the life you want, free from addictive substances or behaviors.

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Podcast

Swimming Against the Legislative Tides

In this podcast, hear from Sarah Levin, founder of Secular Strategies and Gerardo (Gee) Matamoros, president of the SMART NYC board, talk about advocating for evidence-based policy, separation of church and state, plus much more.

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Sober Voices

FLOW

SMART is proud to support Sober Voices FLOW. This international event is open to those in early sobriety, sober-curious, and in long-term sobriety of any kind. The four days, September 30^th - October 3^rd, will be filled with content from a diverse array of leaders in the sober movement, including SMART's State Outreach Director, Mike Hooper. Mike will be speaking on October 3^rdat 2:00 p.m. ET.

Use to the promo code SMARTRECOVERY50 to save 50% off the ticket price.

Learn More & Register

NAADAC Webinar

History of Recovery in the United States
and the Addiction Profession

SMART strives to bring timely, content rich articles and information to our community from a variety of sources.

This NAADAC webinar will outline major milestones in the history of addiction recovery in the United States and its role in the addiction profession. The presentation will span the rise of Native American recovery circles in the 1700s through the rise of a new recovery advocacy movement, new recovery support institutions, and new recovery support roles in the opening of the 21st century.

The webinar is free to watch.

Watch Webinar

Featured Facilitators

Facilitator Spotlight

Pete Rubinas

Pete Rubinas found SMART Recovery when he observed someone close to him transforming their life using SMART tools and techniques. That led Pete to examine his own relationship with alcohol, and he decided to build a new balanced alcohol-free life with the help of fellow meeting participants.

As part of giving back to a program that helped him live his best life, Pete started facilitating regular SMART Recovery meetings before helping to found the first local SMART Family & Friends meetings in the Triangle region of North Carolina. He's gone on to become the SMART Regional Coordinator for North Carolina, supporting other facilitators around the state as they strive to provide compassionate support to those struggling with an addictive behavior.

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Facilitator Spotlight

Ray Roe

Ray has been facilitating meetings since May of 2019, simply because there were no SMART meetings in the area. If he wanted one, he had to lead the charge and step out of his comfort zone. Over the next six months he saw the impact SMART was having on others. During this time, he observed other attendees that were as motivated as he was about teaching the tools SMART Recovery has to offer. After some time, Ray was granted the opportunity to be the Regional Coordinator in Arkansas. Together with this team of facilitators starting their own meetings, SMART Recovery support meetings can be attended three times a week in public forums, as well as multiple meetings in recovery homes in the surrounding area.

Ray and his team are currently working on a venue near the campus at the University of Arkansas to start meetings, as well as future plans for Family and Friends meetings. Ray wanted to make sure that we know that his motivation and passion for others to have the same freedom he has in recovery is shared by his team. The growth SMART has in this area is a direct reflection of that. He encourages others everywhere in recovery to step out of their comfort zones and become part of a team that is helping change lives for the better. Who doesn't want to be part of that?

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SMART Happenings

SMART Recovery National Conference

Leading the Future of Recovery

Saturday, October 23, 2021, 9:00 A.M. ET

SMART Recovery is a global movement of self-empowering addiction recovery mutual support meetings. We, along with many others, are truly leading the future of recovery. And we want you to join us in our mission.

The 2021 SMART Recovery National Conference is an opportunity for you to hear from members of the SMART Recovery community, addiction recovery experts, and industry leaders on the current state of addiction recovery, what the future landscape looks like, and how SMART intends to be involved in the solution into the future.

Thank you to our sponsors

SMART Insiders+ Program

Get Inside the Solution

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For a small recurring contribution, you’ll receive a special Insiders+ welcome package and be the first to receive important news and engagement opportunities from SMART Recovery.

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