Virtual Tools, Real Help: Staying Sober During Pandemic
As physical meetings for individual counseling and mutual support groups have become impossible during the COVID-19 physical distancing and social solidarity measures, virtual tools are providing real help for people in recovery from substance use disorders, struggling to maintain their sobriety, or for people choosing to quit or reduce their alcohol use.
Connection is a key aspect of sobriety and recovery. With physical distancing many organizations have adapted to online platforms to connect those in recovery. Following is a list of resources.
For People Struggling with Alcohol and other Drugs
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Federal hotline offering referrals to local treatment and support services. - Narcotics Anonymous
Meetings worldwide for people struggling with drugs. Directory of online meetings, using Zoom, Skype and other platforms. - SMART Recovery
Abstinence-based international organization that uses a cognitive behavioral therapy tool kit. Has a directory of online meetings. - AA-Alcoholics Anonymous
The worldwide 12-step abstinence program has extensive online resources. - Recovery Dharma
This organization uses Buddhist practices and principles to support individuals in recovery. Directory of daily online meditations and meetings. - Women for Sobriety
Dedicated to helping women recover from substance use disorders, with online gatherings. - LifeRing
Organization focusing on practical, secular support, with online meetings. - Moderation Management
For people seeking to reduce their alcohol intake and not necessarily abstain, this growing group has an international network of online meetings. - Cocaine Anonymous Online
International group offering online support through email and voice-only conference calls. - In the Rooms
Clearinghouse of 30 online meetings offering supports with a variety of approaches to different substance use disorders. - Soberistas
A website for worried binge alcohol users, and for those who are back in control of their lives offering connection, conversation as well as feature articles about health and nutrition, and advice for leading a healthy lifestyle that doesn’t include alcohol. - Tempest
A modern, accessible, and empowering path to recovery, offering an online sobriety school and aftercare program centered around the individual.
Free Apps
- Connections – Evidence-based, multipurpose app to help track sobriety and connect with supportive peers and Addiction Policy Forum counselors.
- I Am Sober – App for planning and maintaining recovery.
- SoberGrid – Large online sober-support community and peer counseling.
- Celebrate Recovery – A Christian-centered 12-step recovery program and app.
- Smart Recovery – Overcoming Addictions (OA) is a confidential and interactive web app to help achieve and maintain abstinence.
- Meeting Guide – A free of charge meeting finder app for iOS and Android that provides meeting information from A.A. service entities in an easy-to-access format, by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
- NA Meeting Search – An application developed to help find an NA Meeting anywhere around the world, including also daily Just For Today meditations.
- Recovery Path – Technology assisted addiction recovery. Built on research, made with compassion.
Access more free apps for recovery here.
For Those Who Support People in Recovery
- Nar-Anon Global support network for those affected by someone else’s addiction. Live chat and forum available.
- Al-Anon Using a 12-step focus, this organization offers online and phone meetings for those whose friends and relatives struggle with alcohol use disorder, among other substances.
- Families Anonymous Offers online 12-step meetings for family and friends with a loved one struggling with drugs, alcohol and related behavioral problems.
- SMART Recovery Friends and Family This secular, cognitive behavioral-based program offers online meetings for families and friends of someone recovering from substance abuse.
Online Meeting Directory (pdf)
A List of Virtual Meetings & Speaker Archives, by the Token Shop
During this unprecedented time of physical distancing and social solidarity, here is a list of online meetings as well as speaker tape archives to help all people in recovery or people struggling with maintaining sobriety or people interested in reducing or quitting alcohol and other substance use.
