We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they seek
Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill’s Story
The recovery aspect of a 12-step program comes in two parts: the steps themselves, and meetings.
The steps help us to live within a framework of principles that make life easier and more rewarding. Meetings are where we go to share experience, strength, and hope with each other along that process. We find fellowship and community in the common work of recovery, offer ourselves as sponsors for newcomers, and create a space where we can enjoy life freely.
Meetings are rarely a rigidly-run experience, but having a good concept of what you’re walking into can be very helpful.
Is this therapy? Why should I go?
Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings are not therapy, but they can be good for your mental health. The book Alcoholics Anonymous, which we use as our basic text, says “When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” There are a lot of steps and time missing between those words.
We attend meetings regularly to learn how others have stayed sober and to find support in our efforts to cope with fear, loneliness, grief, and other emotions that might overwhelm us from time to time.
After a meeting we often go out as a group (this is called fellowship) for dinner or coffee. At fellowship, we discuss the ideas we’ve just heard about and get to know other members on a more personal level.
Our experience has shown that attending Twelve Step meetings and fellowship is one great way to stay sober.
Do I have to call myself an addict?
Only you can answer that question. No one in Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) will tell you whether you’re an addict or not. Some of us knew we were addicts before we entered the program, and some of us weren’t sure but knew we wanted to do something about our problem with crystal meth.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Have you tried to stop or cut down your crystal meth use and failed?
- Is crystal meth making you feel depressed or hopeless?
- Are you using more crystal meth: greater amounts or more often?
- Are you missing work, social commitments, and family obligations due to your crystal meth use?
- Are you spending more money on crystal meth than you would like?
- Do you regret things you do while using?
If you answered yes to any of these, you might be an addict. If you’re not sure, we suggest you come to a CMA meeting. Anyone who has a desire to stop using crystal meth is welcome.
Is this a cult?
Cults are more organized than a 12-step organization could ever dream of becoming. CMA has no central personality, membership requirements or enforcements, and only the most basic unifying principles. You could go from meeting to meeting and recognize the same rough outline of our fellowship but have very different experiences, even week to week in the same meeting. You can come and go as you like, even make changes to how groups function in business meetings on your first visit. Cults also tend to have a lot more funding than any 12-step group has ever seen. We collect enough donations from members to keep the lights on.
Do you talk about God?
CMA is a spiritual program, and that phrase has a lot of meanings, which is the point. We do not define “spiritual” for anyone because it is a personal experience each of us must find a way to connect with. While many people refer to that connection as “God”, many do not. We do not privilege anyone’s conception in meetings, so when we come together to share our experience on this path each of us uses the label that feels most true.
Sharing in meetings is not the same as proselytizing or advice giving, so when someone talks about God they are relating their story as a way for others to identify and connect. Atheists and agnostics may do the same, but about how that label specifically does not work for them, and that their spiritual connection comes from other people or ideas.
Very little is sacred in 12-step recovery, in the sense that it is all available for discussion and challenge. If you want to talk about God, go ahead. If you don’t, that’s fine too. Our stories are our own and none of us are right.
What if I don’t like it?
Every meeting is different because every group of people is different. Try a different meeting. Try an online meeting if you’re worried about running into people you know.
Meetings are what you make of them. Listening for similarities rather than differences, asking questions rather than doing all the talking, and even literally changing what you don’t like by coming to the group’s business meeting are all ways to improve your experience.
And if all of that fails, start your own. You’re probably not alone in wanting something different and there’s always room for more.
Why CMA? Why not NA/CA/AA?
We find we relate best to other crystal meth addicts because they understand the darkness, paranoia, and compulsions that go along with this particular addiction. The Twelve Steps of CMA were adapted from the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous. We do not believe we are better or worse than those in other Twelve Step fellowships. At the same time, many of us fail to fully identify with the experiences of members of other Twelve Step groups. The hyper-extended duration and intensity of crystal meth’s effects, be it compulsive cleaning or sexual activity, are unique. Many of us have attended other Twelve Step meetings, but the feeling of identification “in the rooms” of CMA helps us to keep coming back. After all, who but another crystal meth addict understands the insanity that accompanies the high or the seemingly bottomless drop into depression that makes us desperate to use still more?
Many of us struggled with the suggestion that we give up alcohol, other recreational drugs and medications not taken as prescribed, along with crystal meth. The first step in our recovery was for us to admit we were addicts. We came to understand that our addictive behavior could easily be transferred to other substances. Physicians, psychologists, and other professionals familiar with the treatment of our disease refer to this as cross-addiction. This is a very real danger as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs have often led us right back to crystal meth. For some of us it took time, but for most it happened fairly quickly: Our innocent escape to the neighborhood bar sent us back to our dealer in search of our drug of choice. It is important for us to remember that alcohol is a drug, period.
Give it a try
All you have to lose is an hour.