[Guest Blog by SMART Facilitator Rick Kuplinski]

Many newcomers to SMART Recovery arrive undecided whether to pursue abstinence vs. moderation when it comes to substance use addictions. Many of us have a hard time with the “forever” notion of abstinence and we cling to hope that we can be a “normal” user (even if we never really were or haven’t been for a long time).

Let’s be clear: You are welcome at SMART Recovery meetings and are invited to use SMART Recovery tools and strategies whether you want to try abstinence or not. This includes you if you are pursuing goals that involve controlled use, harm reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), or even moderation as a long-term goal. SMART does not tell us what our recovery goal should be. That’s because research has established that we change behavior most effectively when we are empowered to set and act upon our own plans—not someone else dictating these for us.