It was a happenstance viewing of the movie Authentics that introduced Eric Ruff to SMART Recovery. The movie includes characters that use SMART’s pathway, and Eric was curious. After further research, Eric realized SMART had a lot to offer him personally.
Kim Metje’s introduction was more directed—her therapist suggested that SMART might be the best pathway for her based on what Kim was sharing in a group setting. Kim says she immediately started identifying with others in the group. “I felt like someone had stolen my diary and was reading it.”
For Corey Hall, it was more about being convinced that other pathways were not for him and seeking a program that offered something different in terms of perspective on making changes. “I find it far more empowering to say I have the ability to manage my own addiction versus saying that I’m powerless.” SMART’s philosophy resonated deeply.
No matter how an individual discovered SMART, LaNija Redmond, the Community Outreach Coordinator for SMART in Charlotte, says the common denominator seems to be having choices. “What really resonates for people is that there are more options out there and places to explore recovery, and people are finding SMART to be a viable primary option for recovery.”
Redmond was hired in early 2024 after Mecklenburg County awarded SMART a grant to establish a recovery network based on SMART’s science-based principles and practices. When Redmond started connecting with individuals like Ruff, Metje, and Hall, the network started gaining momentum. Although the Charlotte area already had some SMART meetings before she got started, the county’s funding has provided support to train more than 30 people in SMART so far. And with many of these people connected to community organizations, the ripple effect of growth is noticeable.
Ruff, who works for Promise Resource Network, focuses on helping others understand that SMART is a broad and inclusive pathway. “SMART is not saying you have to believe in anything other than yourself. You can apply these principles, and it works. SMART does not exclude anybody, even those who are not in recovery [from addictive behaviors]. It just teaches you how to manage human experiences.”
Hall also sees this inclusive aspect of SMART as a powerful attraction for people looking for help. “SMART has a lot to offer no matter what background you come from. It’s the connections that [meeting participants] are making that are the most important thing.” Hall says it is key that people find the recovery model that works for them because not every model works for all individuals.
This is music to Redmond’s ears as she works to grow a cadre of advocates for SMART throughout Mecklenburg County. She reports that people who are speaking out on behalf of SMART are finding it rewarding. “I think they get to be a liaison for other pathways, to bring more knowledge and depth to their organization. They get to be a door opener.” Redmond says this happens frequently at community events that act as soft introductions to the world of recovery, even if the event is not specifically about the issue of addictive behaviors.
Besides events and gatherings, Charlotte-area advocates understand that part of the work in building a network is simply getting the name out there in the public eye. That is why Metje has decided to go with a series of yard signs that will be strategically placed in high traffic areas that alert the community that SMART Recovery has meetings in the county. Metje also points out that, in her view, “getting healthy is very contagious.” When people discover the sharing, comfort and identification that can be found at a SMART or SMART Family & Friends meeting, they carry healthy perspectives and positive connections back into all areas of their lives.
Redmond concludes that the connections and conversations continue even when she is not in the room. Ideally, she would love to see additional coordinators like her to increase the reach of SMART in communities nationwide. She says her dream is “to make sure every organization, every community group, even all individuals have that personal connection that will really continue to foster the growth of SMART and its self-empowering approach.”
