“The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel, because only another addict can identify with and offer recovery to a newcomer by sharing experience, strength, and hope.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 81

MA’s primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery to the still suffering addict. We do this in meetings, and through sponsorship. It was a huge relief to me when I entered recovery to find other addicts who understood how treacherous this disease of addiction had been, and how hard it was to quit. I had tried to do it on my own, and was unable. I quickly learned that if I kept going to meetings, I would learn what I needed to stay clean. By listening to other addicts share their experience, strength, and hope, I could identify and start to use the tools they used.

I remember hearing people suggest that it was a good idea to stay in the center; to come to the meeting early, and stay after, and to sit in the midst of the group. It would’ve been easy to come late, and sit at the back, so I could go unnoticed, but I’ve found that newcomers are always welcomed. It took some months to be able to share a difficulty while going through it. I didn’t know how to be vulnerable, so I didn’t share a problem until it was solved. Eventually, I knew it would serve me better to share all of me, not just what I thought was acceptable. When I share all of me, the newcomer has a chance to identify and see themselves in whatever it is I’m dealing with. By sharing my experience, strength, and hope, the newcomer learns the tools to use to live a life in recovery.

Final thought: Today, I share my experience, strength, and hope with other addicts in recovery.