SMART Recovery Announces 600th Meeting

Sept. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- SMART RECOVERY ANNOUNCES 600th MEETING

Mentor, Ohio - SMART Recovery announces its 600th meeting as it continues expanding face-to-face group meetings nationally and internationally. SMART Recovery, the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group, offers tools for overcoming addiction based on the latest scientific research and is now doing so in more and more cities and towns.

On October 20th, the 600th free self-help meeting will be underway in Prescott, Arizona, and is being facilitated by John Mosbach and Johanna Gherman, volunteer facilitators for SMART Recovery.  John states, “I have been doing volunteer work at the local VA Hospital and have seen many vets with addictions who don’t seem to benefit from 12-step programs and were seeking options. A SMART Recovery face-to-face meeting became available to the Vets at the VA, which I was pleased to see occur, and I have attended a few of the meetings.  That led me to believe it would be beneficial to start a community meeting in Prescott, which is a big recovery town.  I’m taking the Distance Facilitator Training, and look forward to bringing SMART Recovery to Prescott”.  Johanna shares, “When I learned about the SMART Recovery program I wanted to become involved in a helpful way.  I feel recovery through various avenues is a key to recovery and I want to help others.”

SMART Recovery has reached 600 meetings via a distance training program for group Facilitators, information available on its website regarding how to start meetings, and outreach efforts through various social networks.

SMART Recovery meetings consist of various activities and tools aimed at helping individuals understand and correct the connection between their irrational beliefs, actions and consequences. A variety of tools are provided within the 4-Point Program® and ways of handling motivation, urges, emotional upsets, etc. are discussed and then practiced by participants.

John M. of SMART Recovery New York City states, "Considering how much we pay for the necessities and luxuries of our 'modern' existence, it's incredible that something as life-altering as SMART Recovery is free. And given the current economic situation, the need for it is greater than ever."

SMART Recovery also serves the international community and already has meetings in Australia, Canada, India, Iran, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan. Meetings are soon scheduled to begin in Poland, Switzerland and Russia.  Daily online meetings are also available.  SMART Recovery is now in the process of expanding the availability of its services throughout the world and will soon introduce a podcast, new videos and other materials so that all can benefit from the program wherever they're located.  

From its headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, SMART Recovery provides all of its services and maintains operations such as handling calls and emails, releasing publications and raising funds.

Contact:
Shari Allwood, Executive Director
SMART Recovery Central Office, 7304 Mentor Avenue, Suite F, Mentor, OH 44060
Phone: 440.951.5357 • Toll-free: 866.951.5357 • Website: http://www.smartrecovery.org

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A volunteer based, non-profit, international organization providing free, self-empowering self-help groups and online for individuals desiring to abstain from any type of addictive behavior.