Online Support Communities - please do not bother them (or me) about the content of this page or a link that exists to them, I will not respond to either of you. this is from an old archive in 2019 and will be updated

    r/stopdrinking - This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. They would like you to visit them on Reddit before joining their chatroom, and they require you to be at least 24 hours clean/sober to participate.

    http://www.refugerecovery.org/ - Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Inspired Path to Recovery from Addiction

    https://sherecovers.co/ - She Recovers is an international movement of self-identified women in or seeking recovery from a wide variety of issues, including substance use and eating disorders, other behavioral health issues, trauma, abuse, codependency, cancer, grief, low self-esteem, perfectionism and other life challenges.

    https://www.meetup.com/ - When you start getting a little further along in recovery -- or you're just ready for your life to open to some new things, try to find some constructive and healthy hobbies. Consider connecting with people who share a common interest or find something new you'd like to try.

Community Resources - United States Audience

  1. SAMHSA: US Substance and Mental Health Services Administration
    SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

  2. SAMHSA Online Treatment Locator: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

  3. What we call "outside help," (therapy, counseling) aka getting the wheels tightened down:

    https://openpathcollective.org/ - Open Path Collective is a network of registered therapists offering sessions priced $30 to $50.

    https://7cups.com/ - 7 Cups connects you to caring listeners for free emotional support. They have free peer support forums, and also offer confidential online therapy & counseling with licensed therapists for $150 USD per month.

    https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov - Federally funded health centers often offer mental health services. Find one near you.

  4. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress - call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
    https://www.thehotline.org

  5. United Way - 211 - Get Connected, Get Help.
    Crisis | Emergencies and Disasters | Food | Energy Assistance
    211 is a vital service that connects millions of people to help every year. To get expert, caring help, simply call 211 today or search for your local 211 below:
    US: https://www.211.org
    Canada: http://www.211.ca

  6. The Hotline: National Domestic Violence Hotline.
    National Domestic Violence Hotline can help victims, survivors of domestic violence. Call 1-800-799-7233. Chat w/ an advocate on our website.
    https://www.thehotline.org

  7. YWCA: Alternatives to Domestic Violence.
    Several programs at YWCA assist families in domestic violence situations. Your local YWCA may be able to refer you to legal resources or shelters in your community or within a few cities distance.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=ywca+alternatives+to+domestic+violence

  8. Haven for Hope: Serving San Antonio (Bexar County), TX.
    Our mission is to offer a place of hope and new beginnings. We do this by providing, coordinating, and delivring an efficient system of care for people experiencing homelessness in Bexar County.
    https://www.havenforhope.org/

  9. Haymarket Center: Serving Chicago (Cook County), IL.
    The mission of Haymarket Center is to aid people with substance use disorders in their recovery by providing comprehensive behavioral health solutions. Maternal care, medical detox, short and long term residential programs.
    https://www.hcenter.org/

  10. Share! The Self Help and Recovery Exchange: Serving the greater Los Angeles Area.
    SHARE! Culver City and SHARE! Downtown Los Angeles are friendly, accessible and supportive centers where a large community of self-help groups meet each week, addressing all kinds of issues such as anger management, health, depression, self-esteem, relationships, childhood abuse, substance abuse, reaching goals, and many more.
    Share also provides low-ish (and in some cases "same-day") housing options for those defined as Mental Health Consumers at risk of homelessness. Rents range from $450-$650 per month.
    https://www.shareselfhelp.org/

  11. DanceSafe: Promoting Health and Safety within the Electronic Music Community.
    Drug Testing Kits: The fentanyl crisis is getting out of hand in the US, we're finding it not only in heroin but in counterfeit pills, ecstasy, cocaine, and crystal meth. For those who are still using please consider acquiring Fentanyl test strips. https://dancesafe.org/shop/

  12. Save a life with Narcan: Reduce addiction's cost to society, our hospitals, and our overworked First Responders!
    Available without a written prescription in most states, naloxone, also known as NARCAN, is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses. CVS Pharmacy locations in most communities have naloxone on hand and can dispense it the same day or ordered for the next business day.
    https://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse/save-a-life

"Special Purpose" 12-Step Groups with an Abstinence Focus

https://secularaa.org/ - Secular AA: Secular AA's mission is to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous without having to accept anyone else's beliefs or deny their own. Secular AA does not endorse or oppose any form of religion or belief system and operates in accordance with the Third Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous: The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

https://heroinanonymous.org/ - Heroin Anonymous World Services. Heroin Anonymous (HA) is a fellowship of men and women who have found a better way of life, free from heroin addiction.

https://crystalmeth.org/ - Crystal Meth Anonymous is a fellowship of people for whom all drugs, specifically crystal meth, have become a problem.

https://ca.org/ - Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of people for whom all drugs, specifically cocaine (crack, etc), have become a problem.

Non 12-Step Based Recovery and Support Groups

  1. SMART: Self Management And Recovery Training.
    http://www.smartrecovery.org/
    Rational, sane, common-sense recovery techniques. Based on Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, the brainchild of Dr. Albert Ellis.

  2. http://www.womenforsobriety.org/
    WFS, Women For Sobriety (guys ignore this one)
    WFS also has online chat groups:
    http://www.womenforsobriety.org/news_conferences/chat.html
    For local group meetings in your area you can also call 1-800-333-1606.

  3. http://www.sossobriety.org/ == SOS,
    Secular Organizations for Sobriety, a.k.a. "Save Our Selves".
    SOS is an alternative recovery method for those alcoholics or drug addicts who are uncomfortable with the spiritual or superstitious content of widely available 12-Step programs.

  4. http://www.lifering.org/ == LifeRing Secular Recovery (LSR)

  5. Harm reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support (HAMS)
    http://hams.cc
    HAMS is peer-led and free of charge. HAMS offers information and support via a chat room, an email group, and live meetings — as well is the articles on this web site.

  6. Moderation Management
    http://www.moderation.org/
    Moderation Management is oriented towards cutting down to moderate, responsible, controlled drinking, rather than total abstinence.

  7. Rational Recovery
    http://www.rational.org/
    Rational Recovery is no longer "a recovery group", it's a book, and a technique called AVRT — Addictive Voice Recognition Therapy — basically the same idea as the Lizard Brain Addiction Monster.