Online & other support for people in recovery from addictions during the Covid-19 outbreak

Double Impact are working hard to continue to provide alternative ways of supporting its service users during the Covid-19 outbreak.

In addition to this, we would encourage our service users, and the wider recovery community of which they and we are a part, to take advantage of the other forms of support which are accessible, in order to stay as connected and focused on recovery as possible.

We have listed some of these below:

Virtual/ Online meetings

These are run in exactly the same way as a face-to-face group support meeting, but conducted via either Skype or Zoom, free downloadable software, so if you have a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone, you can take advantage of these. Anonymity can be protected by using a false name, using audio only rather than video, and, like any other meeting, you can just listen if you would rather not speak:

Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings

Narcotics Anonymous Online Meetings

SMART UK Recovery Online meetings

Cocaine Anonymous Online Meetings

Gambling Therapy Online Meetings

Recovery Speakers

Stay plugged in to your recovery, through listening to pre-recorded speakers , online. There are also a host of online recorded speakers telling their personal stories of recovery, for example:

Recovery Speakers– This website, one of many, contains shares from a wide range of recovery fellowships, including AA, NA, CA, Overeaters Anonymous and Al.Anon.

There are also many more personal recovery stories and more general recovery videos on YouTube.

There are also several podcasts about recovery such as: Hooked: the unexpected addicts

Addiction Recovery Apps

There are a raft of smartphone apps designed to support your recovery as well, this article mentions a few but there are many more:

Recovery blogs

There are so many great recovery blogs out there. Have an explore and see what you can find.

Online recovery communities

Similarly, there are several online recovery communities which have interesting articles, blogs, forums and loads of other resources. Check these out for starters:

Soberistas

Hello Sunday Morning

Club Soda

Gambling Therapy online forums

Check out this article for loads of other suggestions.

Pick up the phone and speak to someone!

Use the support network and contacts which you already have. Arrange with your existing recovery buddies, sponsor or mentor, and others in your support network to check in with each other, in person, on a regular basis. It’s good to talk!

Recovery Literature

Now could be a good time to dust off any recovery-focused literature you might have on your shelf, and build reading it into your daily routine. There are many personal memoirs and great self-help books about addiction available online.

Local support groups

Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK is a new organisation which consists of general community support groups for anyone who is vulnerable and may need practical support during the coronavirus outbreak.

Their website lists all local groups by area.

National Support Lines:

AA National Helpline: 0800 917 7650

NA National Helpline: 0300 999 1212

SMART UK : General enquiries: 0330 053 6022

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: 0330 094 0322

Samaritans: 116 123 anytime day or night