Cocaine Anonymous - What it is & How it Works

Cocaine Anonymous is one of the more recent additions to the 12 step fellowship recovery groups. Due to its success, it has seen tremendous growth within a relatively short space of time.

Cocaine Anonymous was founded in 1982 and its known by its members as CA. The group aims to help anyone who is suffering from a drug problem to find recovery.

Contrary to popular belief, CA is not just for cocaine addicts. They welcome anyone with an addiction problem. The 12 step programme can be easily adapted to treat any substance abuse problem. It also works in treating process (behavioural) addictions, such as sex addiction.

You can access Cocaine Anonymous meetings directly through our platform. We recognise that there is no one method of addiction recovery that fits all. Recoverlution offers a plethora of proven recovery methods, all free to access within one safe and dedicated space.

If CA is something you feel you or a loved one could benefit from, you can join directly here and explore their online meetings. You can obtain further information about their meetings and programme directly from their website.

Who is Cocaine Anonymous?

Cocaine Anonymous are an independent organisation and are classed as a mutual aid support group. The success of the 12 step model of recovery has resulted in it being considered an evidence-based treatment method.

Many rehabilitation treatment centres include aspects of the 12 step programme and introduce their patients to CA meetings.

Cocaine Anonymous relies solely on voluntary contributions from its members. This helps to keep its meetings running and helps the organisation to grow.

Based on the concept that only an addict can help another addict, Cocaine Anonymous members go through the process of the 12 steps with an experienced member of CA. They do this not only to overcome their own addiction but also to help other addicts to find recovery.

Just like Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous follows a similar set of traditions and concepts. This helps to ensure that their group meetings run smoothly and protect its member's anonymity.

Who can attend CA meetings?

Cocaine Anonymous is not cocaine specific, despite what its name suggests. Anyone with a desire to overcome a substance abuse problem is welcome to attend and become a member. This also extends to those who have a problem with alcohol.

Cocaine Anonymous could help you if you have a problem with any of the following substances:

• Cocaine
• Crack cocaine
• Alcohol
• Methamphetamines
• Ketamine
• Heroin & opiates
• Legal highs
• Party drugs
• Prescription drugs

Because most Cocaine Anonymous meetings use the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as their basic text, many alcoholics also choose to attend CA meetings as a means of connecting with like-minded others.

The organisation does not differentiate between substances. It recognises that addiction is both an illness of the body and mind and that substances are merely a symptom.

The benefits of Cocaine Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous offers many benefits to those seeking recovery from addiction. It appeals mostly to people who have tried other methods of stopping substance abuse that has not worked.

The benefits of Cocaine Anonymous include:

• It is very accessible
• It is very supportive
• CA encourages anonymity
• It is free
• CA is open to all who have a desire to overcome a problem with substances
• The organisation has a sister group that offers help and support to affected family members.
• They use the 12 Step programme of recovery that has stood the test of time and has proven to be a very effective recovery model
• CA provides a sense of belonging and purpose
• Cocaine Anonymous regularly hold conventions and sober recovery parties for members to attend
• It encourages a healthy recovery from drug addiction

What to expect at your first meeting of Cocaine Anonymous

Regardless of how you attend your first CA meeting, whether it be through our platform, zoom, a face-to-face meeting or telephone, you should receive a very warm welcome.

Cocaine Anonymous places importance on welcoming new people seeking recovery from addiction into their meetings.

At your first meeting, you will be encouraged to sit back and listen and keep an open mind. You can swap numbers with members of the same gender after the meeting has finished. Same-gender support is encouraged to help keep newcomers safe both inside and outside of meetings.

CA meetings follow a set format that consists of their own literature readings and a personal story of recovery from one of its members. Some meetings offer meditation or big book readings. You can find out the format of your local CA meetings by asking other members or checking on their website.

At a meeting of Cocaine Anonymous, you are likely to hear the mention of a sponsor. A sponsor is another member who has been through the programme of recovery and who applies it to their daily life. As such, they are able to show others how they attained their recovery from addiction through the process of the steps, and act as a recovery mentor.

How Cocaine Anonymous works

Cocaine Anonymous members apply the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to their lives. This brings about a huge shift in thinking and behaviour that enables them to stay clean from substances.

The organisation also places importance on connection with like-minded others and encourages members to help and support one another.

Whilst addiction in any form cannot be cured, thankfully it can be successfully treated. Cocaine Anonymous offers a method of treatment that is free to access, that has proven effective and has stood the test of time.

Accessing Power through the 12 step recovery programme

When attending a meeting of Cocaine Anonymous, you are likely to hear the word God mentioned. For some people, this can act as a deterrent. This is why CA encourages new members to attend a few different meetings before deciding whether their programme is for them.

Whilst, like AA, CA will refer to finding a God to help overcome addiction, this ‘God’ is to be of your own understanding.

It is important to understand that your own concept of a God does not have to be a religious one. It can be as simple as connecting to your own consciousness.

CA members use the 12 step programme of recovery to clear the mind of all obstructions and obstacles to recovery. This then frees them to connect with their inner conscience or a power that is greater than addiction.

As a spiritual programme of progress, your own understanding of God may well evolve over time and with undertaking the process of the 12 steps. This is a very common occurrence for many that attend CA.

By using the 12 step programme principles and applying them to their daily lives, CA members are able to help those that are still struggling with an addiction. In doing so, members of Cocaine Anonymous find a new purpose and meaning to life, one that replaces their previous desire for substances.

What Cocaine Anonymous cannot help with

Cocaine Anonymous is not a substitute for medical care or professional therapy. Their programme is designed to complement other traditional drug treatment methods.

CA cannot help you with medical detoxification if you have a drug dependence. This, you will need to address through the appropriate medical channels. They can however provide you with support and motivation whilst you try to quit substances. Something that can prove invaluable, especially for those undergoing a community-based detox or reduction regime.

If you need help with a drug detox then you should consult your GP or your local drug and alcohol services for treatment and support. You may also want to consider private drug rehab for rehabilitation and detoxification.

Professional therapy and counselling are recommended for anyone suffering from an addiction. Therapy compliments other methods of addiction recovery and helps with the healing process.

You can access a BACP-registered addiction counsellor through your local NHS services. We also have a weekly group meeting within our Community platform that is hosted by a registered counsellor that you can attend for free.

Join the Recoverlution

If you wish to try a meeting of Cocaine Anonymous or set up your own CA meeting, you can do so within our Community platform. We at Recoverlution believe in recovery for all, and as such, we offer various methods of recovery that have proven themselves over the test of time.

There is no one right way to recover that fits all. We try our best to fill in the gaps in recovery by offering professional therapy, education, development and well-being treatments.

Take a look around our site and access as many of our free services as you wish. Here you will have a safe and confidential space in which you can find what works for you as a unique and individual person.

Sources:

CA UK website - https://www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk