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Everything you've been taught is valid — and there's more

If AA isn't for you, you still have options.

AA has saved countless lives, and if it works for you, keep it — nothing here is a takedown. But it isn't the only door. If the rooms never quite fit, that's not a failure on your part. Here are the real, established alternatives, in plain English, with links to each.

The honest truth: recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Some people need spirituality; some need science; some need community; some need medication; most need a mix. The "right" program is the one you'll actually show up for. If you're not sure which fits, that's exactly what a first conversation with me is for.

SMART Recovery

Evidence-based and secular. Uses cognitive-behavioral tools and a "4-Point Program" to build motivation, cope with urges, and change thinking. No higher power required. Free meetings, in person and online.

smartrecovery.org → Find a meeting

Recovery Dharma

Peer-led recovery grounded in Buddhist practice — meditation, mindfulness, and community. Non-theistic and welcoming. (The sister/successor to Refuge Recovery.)

recoverydharma.org → Find a meeting

LifeRing Secular Recovery

Secular, abstinence-based peer support built on three principles: Sobriety, Secularity, and Self-Help. No steps, no prayer — you build your own recovery plan.

lifering.org →

Women for Sobriety

A women-only, peer-led "New Life" program focused on emotional growth, self-esteem, and empowerment. Free, with in-person and online meetings.

womenforsobriety.org → Find a meeting

Celebrate Recovery

A Christ-centered, faith-based 12-step program usually hosted in churches. A good fit if faith is central to your recovery but you want a community built around it.

celebraterecovery.com →

Moderation Management

Support for people working to reduce (rather than necessarily eliminate) drinking — and it supports members who later choose abstinence. Best for those catching a problem earlier.

moderation.org →

HAMS

Harm reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support — a free, non-judgmental peer network for changing your relationship with alcohol on your own terms.

hams.cc →

SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety)

A long-running non-religious, self-empowerment network for abstinence — a "Save Our Selves" approach that keeps recovery and religion separate.

sossobriety.org →

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

For opioid addiction especially, medication is not "replacing one drug with another" — it's evidence-based medicine that cuts overdose risk and stabilizes the brain so the rest of recovery is even possible. The FDA lists three approved medications:

  • Buprenorphine (Suboxone): a partial opioid agonist that eases withdrawal and cravings with a much lower overdose risk. Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone.
  • Methadone: a long-acting agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal, dispensed through certified opioid treatment programs.
  • Naltrexone (Vivitrol): an opioid blocker — a monthly injection so opioids can't produce a high.

MAT pairs best with coaching, counseling, or community — the medication steadies the body; the rest rebuilds the life. Learn more at the FDA and NIDA.

And then there's coaching

None of the programs above are mutually exclusive — and none of them are me. Coaching is the connective tissue: the second ear that helps you figure out which of these fits, keeps you honest between meetings, and works on the part no program covers on its own — your identity, your decisions, and the life you're actually building. Use a program. Use medication. Use me. Use all three.

Talk it through with Shaun Prefer AA? Find Fresno meetings

Note: Program descriptions are summarized from each organization's official website (linked above). Listing an organization is not an endorsement of a specific outcome, and this page is not medical advice. Always verify meeting details on the official sites, which may change.

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