What you need to know
- Connecting with others can help people recovering from substance use disorder feel supported and less alone.
- Recovery-friendly spaces offer opportunities to connect through peer support meetings, social events, and group activities.
- Finding the right community can take time, so it may help to try different spaces and activities.
Recovery from substance use disorder can feel isolating, particularly when stigma or strained relationships make it difficult to connect with others.
“Many people, even those without SUD, find it challenging to ask for help,” says Tammy Ginader, senior director of administration at SMART Recovery. “That guilt and shame someone may feel for using [substances] is the same thing that keeps them from letting someone know they are struggling. Also, if you have pushed people away due to your SUD, you are less likely to feel comfortable with reaching back out again, even when you need it.”
Nurse practitioner and certified recovery coach Carrie May, who also founded an alcohol-free social community called Chicago AF, says spending time with others in recovery can help people feel less alone and build connections that support recovery.
“People that maintain long-term sobriety—it’s because they’re connected with somebody. They have a group of people that they can be honest with,” May tells Public Good News. “The ability to connect with other people that are on the same path with you is critical to every aspect of your life.”
Recovery-friendly community spaces offer opportunities to build relationships, find a sense of belonging, and learn from others who are in recovery, too. Here’s how.
Peer recovery meetings
At peer recovery meetings, people recovering from SUD can find practical support from others with similar lived experiences.
“Recovery meetings offer a supportive space to be your authentic self,” Ginader explains. “At SMART Recovery, you will find people in all stages of recovery, from long-term recovery to those that are not sure if they are even ready or want to stop using. This allows individuals to relate to others, feel less alone and isolated, and hear from those who may have overcome a similar struggle.”
Meetings may focus on sharing experiences or learning skills that can support recovery.
“Within SMART, we have tools that teach you how to build boundaries and how to communicate with others,” Ginader says. “Those tools support you on your path of building long-lasting relationships.”
In addition to SMART Recovery, these groups offer in-person and online support for people working to reduce or abstain from substance use:
Al-Anon also offers support for friends and family members of people with SUD. SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) can help you find more local peer support groups and other recovery resources.
Recovery-centered social clubs
While peer recovery meetings focus on recovery support, recovery-centered social clubs give people opportunities to connect through shared activities and interests.
May founded Chicago AF to help people in the Chicago area socialize without alcohol.
“When I personally got sober, and still to this day, I like to do things where alcohol is not involved in it, so I love to create and plan activities for people to have meaningful connection,” May says. “I’ve found that people—especially sober adults—have a lot of anxiety putting themselves out there. So we have certain standing things like a book club. We do nature walks once a month, too, and different types of smaller drop-in events in addition to our larger social events.”
Similarly, The Phoenix offers free activities and social events across the country, including fitness classes, live music events, collage nights, and open mic nights.
“People tell us they appreciate being able to show up without judgment and without having to explain themselves,” says Beth Collinson, senior director of research and evaluation at The Phoenix. “They don’t have to disclose what they’ve been through, adopt a particular label, or tell their story before they can belong.”
And even in recovery-centered spaces, conversations don’t have to focus on SUD.
“Instead, they might be climbing, doing CrossFit, making art, or sharing music,” Collinson explains. “Relationships develop around those shared experiences, and conversations about recovery can happen later, when and if people want them to. That can be particularly important for people who feel uncomfortable entering a space explicitly labeled as ‘recovery.’”
Find recovery-centered social clubs and events near you by browsing The Phoenix’s website, visiting a local recovery center, or searching Meetup.com, Eventbrite, and Facebook groups.
Alcohol-free bars and cafes
Alcohol-free bars and cafes can also give people who don’t consume alcohol a place to socialize without alcohol being part of the experience.
In New York City, No More has a fully alcohol-free menu, including beverages. The bar and cafe also hosts meetups, game nights, and live music—and it’s not just for people in recovery.
“[Alcohol] isn’t an option here, so it can’t be the focus,” says No More owner Rodrigo Nogueira. “Most people appreciate that [No More] exists, whether they drink or not.”
At No More, those who don’t drink alcohol can “order off the whole menu like everybody else. It’s a sense of normalcy,” Nogueira notes.
Other alcohol-free bars exist in cities across the U.S., including Philadelphia’s The Volstead, New York City’s Listen Bar, and Austin’s Sans Bar.
Learn about similar spaces near you from Imbibe Magazine.
Trying different communities and activities can help
Finding a community where you feel comfortable and supported can take time. And what works for one person in recovery may not work for another.
“It’s really important that people keep trying lots of different spaces and get involved with whatever it is that you find joy in or that you can find some spark of connection with,” May says.
Learn more about recovery support from SAMHSA.
This article was supported by Life Unites Us, a health campaign that receives funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Public Good News retains full editorial control over its reporting.