Greetings from LifeRing Canada:
It’s a beautiful Spring day here in Edmonton, hopefully the snow is gone. LifeRing Canada has been busier than ever, working with new clients, and starting a new zoom meeting. We now have 7 face-to-face meetings, and 8 Zoom meetings. This includes an Alberta Detox meeting. Continue to check our website www.liferingcanada.org for new additions and updates.
Facebook groups are growing constantly so if you haven’t joined yet, please visit one that interests you. They are Stop Drinking by Choice and Sailing the Sober Seas. The administrators look forward to greeting you! Another new addition is our fast-growing Facebook page “LifeRing Recovery By Choice”. It is a private group, which Jamie has been advertising many new features. If you want to join, send your email request to our email address – info@liferingcanada.org .
Our 2 new board members were welcomed aboard and they have been helping us grow our organization. Chris and DJ have joined committees for a couple of different goals we are working on.
Two of our own board members/convenors celebrated a milestone that I want to mention. Our current President Jamie celebrated 8 years sober on February 2nd, and one of our directors Dave celebrated 900 days March 22nd. A great accomplishment for you both, you are great inspiration to our LifeRing family and clients alike.
From our LifeRing family south of the border - LifeRing Inc. LifeRing News Blog
Out of the Box
Recovery + Peer Support does not always = 12 steps.
When it comes to addiction recovery, the traditional 12-step program has been the go-to approach for many rehabilitation centers. But is it really the only path to recovery?
We voice an emphatic NO. Recovery is an intensely personal voyage, and all beneficial support avenues should be accessible to individuals embarking on this journey. Mary Beth O’Connor, LifeRing BOD member and Speakers Bureau manager, takes up the mantle in her recently published article for Recovered, formerly NCADD.org.
""" When I got sober in 1994, my rehab insisted, vehemently and adamantly, that the only path to recovery was the 12-step program. They repeatedly said that if I didn’t comply with every aspect of that approach, I would fail. """
From: Alternative Steps to Recovery: Why The 12-Step Model Isn’t Right For Everyone
- Mary Beth O’Connor, Recovered, 23 February 2024
This article delves into the experiences of an individual who found success through alternative peer support groups, shedding light on the fact that the 12-step program may not be the right fit for everyone.
Mary Beth shares her personal journey of overcoming addiction and the challenges faced when rehab insisted on the 12-step program as the sole path to recovery. Feeling limited by the program’s emphasis on a higher power, powerlessness, and a focus on defects, Mary Beth sought alternative methods to support her sobriety. This led to the discovery of other peer support groups such as Rational Recovery (now SMART Recovery), Secular Organization for Sobriety, and Women for Sobriety.
The article emphasizes the importance of informing individuals seeking recovery about secular peer support groups, especially in a society where a growing percentage of the population identifies as atheist, agnostic, or without a religious affiliation. It challenges the notion that the 12-step program is the superior option by highlighting the findings of the Peer Alternatives Study, which revealed that various peer support groups, including AA, LifeRing, Women for Sobriety, and SMART, are equally effective.
To provide a comprehensive overview, the article introduces six of the largest peer support groups, showcasing their unique approaches to recovery:
12-Steps: Emphasizing powerlessness, a higher power, and a structured 12-step program, with various meeting formats catering to different demographics.
LifeRing Secular Recovery: Focused on sobriety, secularity, and self-help, with an emphasis on self-empowerment and individualized recovery plans.
SMART Recovery: Utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and catering to a wide range of behavioral disorders, not exclusively abstinence-based.
She Recovers Foundation: Supporting women in recovery from various challenges, promoting individualized pathways to recovery without criticizing any approach.
Women for Sobriety: Empowering women to take charge of their lives, create new self-images, and utilize positive reinforcement techniques.
Recovery Dharma: A Buddhist-based approach emphasizing inner wisdom, self-empowerment, and compassion, with a focus on both substance use and process addictions.
By presenting these diverse peer support options, the article aims to empower individuals to find the right fit for their recovery journey, ultimately increasing their chances of success.
In conclusion, the article advocates for a more inclusive approach to addiction recovery, recognizing that the 12-step program may not resonate with everyone. It encourages readers to explore the multitude of peer support groups available, emphasizing that recovery is a deeply personal journey with a variety of paths to healing and growth.
We continue to canvass for additional convenors, as more facilities are looking to start meetings. It’s only a few hours a month, and it feels great to give back. Reach out to any of us to find out more or send an email to info@liferingcanada.org.
As members of the LifeRing Community, what do you want to see, do you have suggestions that we should know about? As we grow LifeRing Canada it is important that our community participants know we are there and want to hear from you.
As a not-for-profit organization, donations are always appreciated. Our method of contributing to LifeRing Canada remains unchanged:
Mail a cheque to 23642 112A Ave. Maple Ridge, BC V2W 0C8
Donate on-line using www.Canadahelps.org
Donate through *Paypal
*With Paypal option you can choose from multiple ways you can donate, which include specific denominations and occurrences. Contributions are made easy when setting up a monthly donation in any amount. To set up your donation click directly to our main donation link - https://liferingcanada.org/donate
All donations are eligible for tax receipt from our charitable number 8446 83516 RR0001.
On our website we show you what your donations provide to us and what special events that are important to you, i.e., in memory of a friend, tribute and memorial gift.
Again, we all thank you for helping us help you! We always look forward to your feedback through our main email address info@liferingcanada.org or any of direct email addresses below, including our board members.
Email Contacts are:
Jamie@liferingcanada.org
Barbara@liferingcanada.org
George@liferingcanada.org
Dave@liferingcanada.org
Maureen@liferingcanada.org
dj@liferingcanada.org
chris@liferingcanada.org
Sincerely,
Barbara Ross
VP LifeRing Canada