Peer support
12-step fellowships: help beyond rehab
You don't have to go to rehab to ask for help. For many people, recovery begins in a room with others who understand.
By The Rehab Index · General information, not medical advice
What is a 12-step fellowship?
A fellowship is a group of people who support one another with a shared problem. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) focuses on alcohol. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) welcomes people with a problem with drugs. Other fellowships include Cocaine Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous.
These groups are run by their members. They use a 12-step programme, regular meetings and shared experience to support recovery. A meeting is not a clinic or a counselling session. The people there are peers, not your medical team.
Do I have to go to rehab first?
No. You do not need a referral, a diagnosis or a rehab stay to contact a fellowship. AA's membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking. NA's is a desire to stop using drugs.
Some people find the support they need through meetings, alongside help from a GP or local service where needed. Others need rehab's professional care, structure and time away from everyday pressures. Fellowships can also be part of ongoing support after treatment. These options can work together.
What is a meeting like?
Meetings vary. Someone may share their experience, the group may discuss a topic, or members may read from fellowship literature. You can usually listen without speaking. You do not need to arrive with the right words or tell your whole story.
Meetings are available in person or online. Some online NA marathon meetings run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can join during the day or night. Check the meeting's current joining details and any time zone information before attending.
An open meeting can be attended by people who want to learn, including family and friends. Closed meetings are for people who have the relevant problem, or think they might. Check the meeting details before attending.
There are no membership fees or dues in AA or NA. A collection may help cover the room and other group costs, but contributions are voluntary. You do not have to pay to belong.
Do I have to be religious?
AA and NA describe their programmes as spiritual, not religious. The steps include references to God or a higher power as each person understands it. You do not have to belong to a religion to attend.
That language can feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and it is reasonable to ask about it. Different meetings have different styles. If the approach does not suit you, there are other forms of peer support. SMART Recovery is a separate, non-12-step option with a practical, science-based approach.
What is a sponsor?
In a 12-step fellowship, a sponsor is usually a more experienced member who helps another member understand and work through the programme. This is peer support, not professional treatment.
You do not need a sponsor before your first meeting. Take time to ask questions and find someone you feel comfortable with. A sponsor is not a doctor and should not make decisions about your medicines or medical care.
What about family and friends?
You deserve support too. Al-Anon offers meetings for people affected by someone else's drinking, whether or not that person is seeking help. You can attend for your own wellbeing, not to learn how to control someone else.
An open AA or NA meeting can help you understand a loved one's experience, but it is not the same as a family support meeting. Counselling and dedicated family services are other options.
Meetings are not medical detox
If you may be physically dependent on alcohol or medicines such as benzodiazepines, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Speak to a GP or a drug and alcohol service before reducing or stopping. A fellowship cannot assess withdrawal risk or provide medical detox.
Peer support can be valuable, but it is not a replacement for medical care or prescribed treatment. No programme can promise recovery. If one meeting does not feel right, it is OK to try another group or a different kind of support.
A first step can be small
Look up a meeting, contact the group and ask what to expect. If attending alone feels difficult, ask whether someone can meet you at the door. You can begin by listening.
You do not have to decide everything today. Asking for support is enough to start.