For many of us, finding a support group has been the single most important step we have taken in our recovery. Isolation is one of the most powerful and damaging effects of addiction and abuse. Participating in a support group can begin to reduce that isolation. It doesn’t happen all at once – most of us have learned how to stay isolated even when we are in groups! But it can happen. And it can be a powerful way to experience God’s love and attentiveness to us.

The National Association for Christian Recovery is a network of individuals – not a network of support groups. There are no “NACR Groups”. We do, however, want to assist you in finding a support group that will help you in your recovery and we hope that the material provided here will give you a good start.

A few words of wisdom about committing to participation in a support group: 

CHRISTIAN RESOURCES

The best referrals to groups will come from someone you know who is already a member of a group. If you do not know of any church-based ministries, however, don’t hesitate to start by phoning the larger congregations in your community. Remember that a church which you would not consider attending regularly may nevertheless have a support group ministry which is well suited to your needs.

SECULAR (Not explicitly Christian) RESOURCES

We encourage you not to dismiss lightly the possibility of finding a secular support group that will be helpful to you. Until recently, of course, finding an explicitly Christian support group was not really a possibility because so few existed. Most Christians in recovery today began their recovery journey in a ‘secular’ support group – and most still find that participation in ‘secular’ support groups is essential to maintaining their sobriety!

In many places it will still be impossible to find an appropriate support group that is distinctively Christian in character. You will, however, find Christians in almost any recovery group. In some situations, participation in a secular group may mean tolerating some constraints on what can be said about your faith as part of the group process – try to remember that these constraints serve an important purpose for many people and that you can always supplement your secular group experience with other kinds of Christian fellowship in support of your recovery. It is also true that many Christians who struggle with spiritual abuse issues may find it helpful to begin their recovery in a setting which is completely free of religious connections – getting help in a secular setting does not mean that your recovery is any less Christian!

SELF-HELP CENTERS

Another way to find a support group that fits your situation is to call one of the “Self-help Centers” which have formed in many states. Many have a computerized database of different kinds of groups. Often these Clearinghouses are a function of county Mental Health Associations – call your county government offices if there is no listing here.