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An online sobriety support group is an umbrella term for a variety of different programs that offer online meetings for people experiencing substance use challenges. You should never feel alone or unsupported along your road to sobriety. At Pathways Recovery, we provide a comprehensive range of treatment programs to help as many individuals as possible break free of addiction for good. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you start your road to recovery. Let’s face it, your addiction recovery journey will likely be filled with many ups and downs. From seeking professional addiction treatment to building a sober support network, there are many individuals you can lean on throughout recovery.

But for someone working on their sobriety, these ads are far from fun reminders of their addiction. Jillian Goltzman is a freelance journalist covering culture, social impact, wellness, and lifestyle. She’s been published in various outlets, including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Fodor’s Travel Guide. Outside of writing, Jillian is a public speaker who loves discussing the power of social media — something she spends too much time on.

Join a book club.

This is best for people who feel as though their life will be lacking excitement if they are sober. The Nonprofit Technology Conference, set for March 13–15, 2024, in Portland, Ore., (or available virtually) is an annual event that attracts individuals who are eager to use technology for social good. It covers a wide range of topics related to nonprofit technology, including best practices, innovations and equitable technology use.

Join the UK’s only monthly online Gameshow for the Sober Community with prizes galore! However, this support group may not suit certain people, as Recovery Dharma teaches recovery through Buddhist practices. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these support groups. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Below is a selection of alcohol support groups that people may wish to join.

Waiting To Hit Rock Bottom Before You Get Sober? Don’t.

Before discussing how you can build your own sober support network, it’s important to understand what a sober support network is. Essentially, your sober support network includes any trusted family members, friends, community groups, addiction specialists, and more who can support you along your sobriety journey. Alcohol support groups offer peer support for those who are recovering from alcohol use disorder. These groups offer different methods, such as 12-step programs, mindfulness techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Sobriety support groups, both online and in person, offer self-management and recovery training.

Maybe the right call is to leave the scene; maybe it’s an opportunity to open up to your old friend about your sobriety. But having someone to buck you up in these unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations can make all the difference. Part of having a healthy sober network is having people in your corner, ready to step in and help out when toxic situations arise.

How To Find Sober Friends: Final Thoughts

LifeRing is free to attend, but donations are encouraged after meetings. People are starting to rethink their relationship with alcohol, whether using it in moderation or opting to abandon it entirely. Specific groups are available for members who are women, nonbinary, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), or LGBTQIA+.

• The purpose of a sober support network is to provide a safe and understanding environment where individuals can share their struggles, seek advice, and receive encouragement.
• The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.
• The group has a long history, which goes back to the publishing of “Alcoholics Anonymous,” or as members call it, “The Big Book,” in 1939.
• Meetings are offered in-person (however, they have temporarily switched to video conference due to COVID-19) and are free to attend.

Whitaker makes it clear that Tempest is not a replacement for a 12-step program, but she also makes it clear that Tempest is not just for those who are clinically addicted to alcohol. Tempest costs $547 for the eight-week program, so there’s definitely sober network properties an out-of-pocket cost, but it may be well worth it if you’re trying to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. The spiritual 12-step program encourages members to admit they’ve lost power to alcohol and to turn their lives over to a higher power.

Meeting New People Through Recovery Groups

Once you have your sober network in place, you’ll feel the embrace of community, and you’ll find confidence in your own sobriety. We’re big believers in the power of online recovery communities (why not check out ours?), so we’ll start there. Through social media and forums, connecting with anyone has become exponentially easier in recent years, and that goes for people in recovery too. It’s a group of people, usually in recovery themselves, that you can rock with when times are great and lean on when times get tough. Your sober network may also include your counselors or coaches that specialize in recovery and sober allies in your family, friend group or workplace. People who have overcome addiction are legion, they’re making the most of their lives and they’re a generous lot.

You can take all the time you need to build a support system that’s right for you. According to a 2010 article published by the American Psychiatric Association, research indicates that substance use — among other health habits — may “spread” through social networks. There’s no right or wrong way to approach finding support from others during recovery and sobriety. It’s all about trying different things and discovering what works best for you. Unfortunately, users outside of Australia have to pay $9.99 AUD per month to access the services.

Still, study participants felt that face-to-face meetings were more effective in maintaining sobriety. The cost of alcohol recovery programs can create a barrier for some people to access support. While some insurance providers have limitations on covering rehabilitation centers, most support groups are completely free. Hrishikesh Belani, M.D., M.P.H., is the primary care director of the LA County Health Services Ambulatory Care Network and an assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

You can find an AA group near you by using the local resources locator on the AA website and searching by your zip code or postal code. AA also runs online groups and meetings for those who do not wish to attend in person. Most newsgroups used the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) so its content could be shared across the constellation of servers accessed by end users. Those servers were needed because in the early days of the public internet it was not always easy to retrieve info from distant servers without waiting an eternity.