Introduction
In an infectious disease outbreak, when social distancing and self-quarantine are needed to limit and control the spread of the disease, continued social connectedness to maintain recovery are critically important. Virtual resources can and should be used during this time.
This tip sheet describes resources that can be used to virtually support recovery from mental/substance use disorders . It also provides resources to help local recovery programs create virtual meetings.
Alcoholics Anonymous: Offers online support
http://aa-intergroup.org/
Cocaine Anonymous: Offers online support and services
https://www.ca-online.org/
LifeRing: LifeRing Secular Recovery offers online support
https://www.lifering.org/online-meetings
In The Rooms – Online Recovery Meetings: Provides online support through live meetings and discussion groups
https://www.intherooms.com/home/
Marijuana Anonymous: Offers virtual support
https://ma-online.org/
Narcotics Anonymous: Offers a variety of online and skype meeting options
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Reddit Recovery: Offers a virtual hang out and support during recovery
https://www.reddit.com/r/REDDITORSINRECOVERY/
Refuge Recovery: Provides online and virtual support
http://bit.ly/refugerecovery1
Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery: Offers global community of mutual-support groups, forums including a chat room and message board
https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/
SoberCity:
Offers an online support and recovery community
https://www.soberocity.com/
Sobergrid:
Offers an online platform to help anyone get sober and stay sober
https://www.sobergrid.com/
Soberistas:
Provides a women-only international online recovery community
https://soberistas.com/
Sober Recovery:
Provides an online forum for those in recovery and their friends and family
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/
Taking Care Of Your Behavioral Health:
Virtual Recovery Resources For Substance Use And Mental Illness
We Connect Recovery: Provides daily online recovery groups for those with substance use and mental illness
https://www.weconnectrecovery.com/freeonline-support-meetings
Unity Recovery + WEconnect + Alano Club: Providing daily virtual meeting for those in recovery and for their family members
https://unityrecovery.org/digital-recoverymeetings
RECOVERY RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS
The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine: Coronavirus Information and Resources Guide
http://bit.ly/NAMIresource
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Contains online support meetings, blogs, mobile apps, social media groups, and movie suggestions, including the online support community, The Daily Pledge:
https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/recovery/tools/daily-pledge
and “Tips for Staying Connected and Safeguarding Your Addiction
Recovery”:
http://bit.ly/HBF-Tips
Shatterproof: “How I’m Coping with COVID-19 and Social Isolation as a Person in Long-Term Recovery” provides helpful suggestions
http://bit.ly/shatterproof-coping
The Chopra Center: “Anxious About the Coronavirus? Here Are Eight Practical Tips on How to Stay Calm and Support Your Immune System.”
http://bit.ly/Chopra-calm
TIPS TO SET UP A VIRTUAL RECOVERY MEETING
Simple steps for 12 step groups using various virtual platforms for meetings:
https://www.nyintergroup.org/remotemeeting-listing/help-setting-up-onlinemeetings/#zoom
To host a meeting on zoom:
1.Set up a free account here: https://zoom.us
When you set up a free account, you can only host a meeting for 45 minutes. To host longer meetings, you need a paid account.
2.Schedule a meeting : https://support.zoom.us/hc/enus/articles/201362413-Schedulingmeetings
3.Invite people to join a meeting : https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362183-How-do-I-inviteothers-to-join-a-meeting
4.Create a flyer to publicize meetings. This flyer is sent to group members via email and text, posted on self-help group’s District Website and posted on door of the physical site that is closed in an attempt to reach anyone who shows up
for a meeting.
Helpful Resources
Hotlines
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline / Toll-Free: 1-800-985-5990 (English and español)
SMS: Text TalkWithUs to 66746 / SMS (español): “Hablanos” al 66746
TTY: 1-800-846-8517
Website (English): http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
Website (ESPAÑOL): HTTP://WWW.DISASTERDISTRESS.SAMHSA.GOV/espanol.aspx
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7/365 Treatment Referral / Information Service in English and español) Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Toll-Free (English): 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Toll-Free (español): 1-888-628-9454 TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
Website (English): http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Website (español): http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp/spanish.aspx
Treatment Locator Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator Website: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator/home
For help finding treatment 1-800-662-HELP (4357) https://findtreatment.gov/
SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
Email: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac