This brief note is for persons new to recovery, whether just starting participation in 12 Step Programs such as AA, NA, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon or Families Anonymous, or just completing a residential treatment program, or just completing an intensive outpatient treatment program. The single most important tip for such newly recovering persons is to engage in some recovery activity every day. I refer here to daily attendance of 12 Step meetings, daily prayer and meditation (if you are open to this), daily readings of recovery literature (books with a page for each day of the year such as Daily Reflections (AA), One Day at A Time (Al-Anon), Today a Better Way (Families Anonymous), Days of Healing, Days of Joy (ACOA)), including the AA Big Book or the NA Basic text, daily contacts with others in solid recovery, weekly therapy (if that is part of your recovery), to name a few.
There is a reason that most treatment programs suggest 90 meetings in 90 days--the power of addiction is such that the newly recovering person needs as much support as possible. The research is clear: the longer a person continues to invest in daily contact with supports for recovery (just mentioned), the better the outcome in terms of abstinence. There is much more to be said to aid the newly recovering person. I invite comments. Jan Williams,www,alcoholdrugsos.com, 04/15/2015.
