New Smart Recovery program provides addicts with assistance
Three years ago, Ian Campbell was an addict. Today, he’s clean, and helping lead others to sobriety.
“What keeps me sober is service work,” Campbell said. He is now a certified addiction recovery empowerment specialist.
On Oct. 6, he opened a SMART Recovery program in Gilmer County.
This program helps addicts overcome their addictions using a science-informed approach.
“It’s kind of like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous, but it’s got a completely different curriculum,” he said.
While this program’s focus on community and personal growth resembles a traditional 12-Step program, it also has more flexibility, Campbell said.
“Everybody’s recovery looks different,” he said.
Other 12-Step programs say addicts must believe in a higher power, admit they can’t control their addiction, examine past errors under the supervision of a sponsor, make amends and several other steps.
SMART Recovery focuses on building and maintaining motivation; coping with urges; managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and living a balanced life.
In 12-Step programs, people have to adhere to a spiritual framework for recovery and view addiction as a disease.
But in SMART Recovery, they can believe these things if they find them helpful, Campbell said.
“If a person is living a productive life and they’re happy and they say that they are cured from addiction, then I don’t feel like I have the place to say, ‘That’s not right,’” he said.
SMART Recovery is about using personal responsibility and scientific therapy techniques to improve, Campbell said.
“You have to know what your triggers are, and you have to be able to address those,” he said.
SMART Recovery’s meetings take place every Monday 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 186 Fred Craddock Dr., Cherry Log.
The meetings are free. Those with questions can call Campbell at 706-889-3456.
Everyone’s journey out of addiction can be different, Campbell said.
He credits Jesus Christ and finding a mission in helping other addicts as key drivers on his way to sobriety.
“SMART Recovery touches on spiritual aspects of things, but leaves a lot more open to the person’s interpretation,” Campbell said. “It’s a lot more inclusive.