Frequently Asked Questions
What is SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery is a fresh approach to addiction recovery, created for individuals and family members seeking a self-empowering way to overcome addictive problems. What has emerged is an accessible method of recovery, one grounded in science and proven by more than a quarter-century of experience teaching practical tools that encourage lasting change.
What does SMART Recovery stand for?
SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.
What is the basis of the SMART Recovery program?
SMART participants are empowered by using worksheets, hands-on activities, group discussions and other methods grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and motivational psychology. SMART participants use our 4-Point Program to develop their ability to:
- Build and Maintain Motivation
- Cope with Urges
- Manage Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
- Lead a Balanced Life
What is SMART Recovery’s Impact?
SMART helps more than one million people each year—including individuals working to recover and family members caring for loved ones who need help—through free weekly in-person and online meetings in well over 20 countries with additional online resources.
SMART focuses on what people can do today to create a better future instead of dwelling on the past, which cannot be changed. Our goal is to help participants build lives with new behaviors that transcend addiction. Establishing a healthy and balanced life beyond addiction is a primary goal.
What is addictive behavior?
SMART views addiction as a behavior that can be corrected, not a condition that defines a person’s identity. We discourage the use of labels such as “addict” or “alcoholic.” Research has shown that labels undermine motivation for many people. Similarly, we don’t label those who have relapsed as “failures.” Almost everyone relapses while trying to recover. We treat these as opportunities for learning how to strengthen recovery efforts and identify what worked during the time before the relapse.
Addictive behavior is over-involvement with substance use (e.g., psychoactive substances of all kinds, including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, food, illicit drugs, and prescribed medications), or over-involvement with activities (e.g., gambling, sexual behavior, eating, spending, relationships, exercise, etc.). We assume that there are degrees of addictive behavior, and that all individuals to some degree experience it. For some individuals the negative consequences of addictive behavior (which can involve several substances or activities) become so great that change becomes highly desirable.
What distinguishes SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery has a scientific foundation, not a spiritual one. SMART Recovery teaches increasing self-reliance, rather than powerlessness. SMART Recovery meetings are discussion meetings in which individuals talk with one another, rather than to one another. SMART Recovery encourages attendance for months to years, but probably not a lifetime. There are no sponsors in SMART Recovery. SMART Recovery discourages use of labels such as “alcoholic” or “addict”.
How can I contact SMART Recovery?
Mailing Address:
7304 Mentor Avenue, Suite F
Mentor, Ohio 44060
Phone Number: 440-951-5357
Email: information@smartrecovery.org
Fax: 440-951-5358.
How do I find an in person or online meeting?
Simply enter your location into our SMARTfinder: https://meetings.smartrecovery.org
How do I obtain meeting verifications?
Verification forms are used to provide documentation that an individual has participated in a substance abuse recovery meeting. These may be desired for a variety of reasons, including good faith evidence in pre-court hearings, to satisfy an employer stipulation or court sentence, to fulfill a component of probation, etc.
Many in-person meeting facilitators will sign verifications after meetings. Find information about verifications for online meetings here: https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/verifications/
How do I order SMART Recovery publications?
You can place your order by visiting the secure online bookstore: https://shop.smartrecovery.org/ Your local meeting facilitator may also carry some publications for sale.
Does SMART Recovery have groups for Family & Friends?
Yes. One’s struggles with addiction affect family members and friends who want to offer support but may not know where to turn. Also, before they can help their loved ones, they must find support for themselves with essential self-care measures.
SMART Recovery provides practical, easy-to-learn tools to help both you and your loved one. Our methods are based on the tools of SMART Recovery and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement & Family Training). Our meetings, available in-person and online, provide tools that families and friends need to support themselves and regain peace of mind while helping their loved one seek treatment.
What other kinds of specialized groups does SMART have?
While our practical tools can help all participants, in some cases individuals may want to seek support from others whose experiences most closely resemble their own. This has been the case with groups of Veterans & First Responders, Young Adults, BIPOC individuals, and persons who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.