Dual Recovery Anonymous

Dual Recovery Anonymous
http://dualrecovery.org/

FAQ Excerpts:

INTRODUCTION: "Dual Recovery Anonymous is a Twelve Step self help
program for individuals who experience both chemical dependency and an
emotional or psychiatric illness. Men and women who currently use
psychiatric medications under a doctor's care, or who have done so in
the past, are welcome to participate."

PREAMBLE: "The DRA fellowship has no opinion on matters of diagnosis,
treatment, medications, or other issues related to the healthcare
profession".

ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES: "Some of us use prescription medications to
control our symptoms, while others have symptoms that need no
medications."

The DRA Online Resource Center maintains a current listing of registered
DRA groups and Intergroups in the United States and Canada, plus all the
information needed to start up a new DRA meeting.

There is no single type of dual disorder. The reason is, that there are
numerous forms of psychiatric illness. There are also many patterns of
alcohol or drug abuse. As a result, a variety of different forms of dual
or multiple disorders are possible.

An individual is in dual recovery when they are actively following a
program that focuses on their recovery needs for both their chemical
dependency and their psychiatric illness.


What is a partial recovery?

An individual is in partial recovery when they try to recover from one
illness and ignore or are unaware of the other illness.

Some people may try to recover from their chemical dependency and will
ignore their psychiatric illness. Some people may be unaware that they
are also affected by a psychiatric illness. Frequently, the symptoms of
their psychiatric illness will reoccur and the individual will be at a
great risk for relapse.

Other problems and consequences that are associated with dual disorder
include:

Family problems or problems in intimate relationships.
Employment or school problems.
High risk behavior while driving.
Multiple admission for chemical dependency services due to relapse.
Multiple admissions for psychiatric care.
Increased emergency room admissions.
Increased need for health care services.
Legal problems and possible incarceration.
Homelessness.

DRA welcomes men and women who have experienced a dual disorder
regardless of their chemical dependency or psychiatric history or their
level of abilities. We recognize that we are men and women whose lives
have been affected by different types of "no-fault" illnesses whose
symptoms can disrupt our ability to function and relate to others
effectively.

DRA recognizes that psychiatric medications are used for the purpose of
managing psychiatric symptoms and are not taken for the purpose of
achieving a "high". Therefore, the use of psychiatric medications is not
considered to be the same as relapse.

DRA is a non-professional self help organization. It would be
inappropriate for DRA to give advice or recommendations to our members
regarding the use of psychiatric medications or other forms of
treatment.

DRA respects and supports the right of each member to work with the
professionals of their choice to develop healthy recovery plans that
will best meet their personal recovery needs.


Change and Recovery: Dual recovery may be seen as a program of positive
change. There is a saying in recovery: "If I want things to change, I
change". Dual recovery is a process. It begins when an individual
becomes willing to accept that they are affected by two illnesses. With
the acceptance of both illnesses also comes a willingness to accept the
responsibility for personal recovery. That responsibility includes
taking an active role in the process of recovery. Frequently, people who
move into successful dual recovery have gone beyond the point of feeling
that they have to do something to stop the problems, consequences,
distressing symptoms, and emotional pain. They have moved to a point
where they have begun to develop "Believable Hope". They are involved in
their personal recovery to improve the quality of their lives."

http://dualrecovery.org/dra_q_and_a.html

we have AA meetings in the milwaukee area that are DUAL DIAGNOSIS
meetings.

rosie

http://airamericaradio.com/www/pub/globalDefault.htm
AIR AMERICA RADIO



"neuro equipoise" <NeuroEquipoise@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:26804-407A98A5-69@storefull-3272.bay.webtv.net...
:
: Dual Recovery Anonymous
: http://dualrecovery.org/
:
: FAQ Excerpts:
:
: INTRODUCTION: "Dual Recovery Anonymous is a Twelve Step self help
: program for individuals who experience both chemical dependency
and an
: emotional or psychiatric illness. Men and women who currently use
: psychiatric medications under a doctor's care, or who have done so
in
: the past, are welcome to participate."
:
: PREAMBLE: "The DRA fellowship has no opinion on matters of
diagnosis,
: treatment, medications, or other issues related to the healthcare
: profession".
:
: ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES: "Some of us use prescription medications to
: control our symptoms, while others have symptoms that need no
: medications."
:
: The DRA Online Resource Center maintains a current listing of
registered
: DRA groups and Intergroups in the United States and Canada, plus
all the
: information needed to start up a new DRA meeting.
:
: There is no single type of dual disorder. The reason is, that
there are
: numerous forms of psychiatric illness. There are also many
patterns of
: alcohol or drug abuse. As a result, a variety of different forms
of dual
: or multiple disorders are possible.
:
: An individual is in dual recovery when they are actively following
a
: program that focuses on their recovery needs for both their
chemical
: dependency and their psychiatric illness.
:
:
: What is a partial recovery?
:
: An individual is in partial recovery when they try to recover from
one
: illness and ignore or are unaware of the other illness.
:
: Some people may try to recover from their chemical dependency and
will
: ignore their psychiatric illness. Some people may be unaware that
they
: are also affected by a psychiatric illness. Frequently, the
symptoms of
: their psychiatric illness will reoccur and the individual will be
at a
: great risk for relapse.
:
: Other problems and consequences that are associated with dual
disorder
: include:
:
: Family problems or problems in intimate relationships.
: Employment or school problems.
: High risk behavior while driving.
: Multiple admission for chemical dependency services due to
relapse.
: Multiple admissions for psychiatric care.
: Increased emergency room admissions.
: Increased need for health care services.
: Legal problems and possible incarceration.
: Homelessness.
:
: DRA welcomes men and women who have experienced a dual disorder
: regardless of their chemical dependency or psychiatric history or
their
: level of abilities. We recognize that we are men and women whose
lives
: have been affected by different types of "no-fault" illnesses
whose
: symptoms can disrupt our ability to function and relate to others
: effectively.
:
: DRA recognizes that psychiatric medications are used for the
purpose of
: managing psychiatric symptoms and are not taken for the purpose of
: achieving a "high". Therefore, the use of psychiatric medications
is not
: considered to be the same as relapse.
:
: DRA is a non-professional self help organization. It would be
: inappropriate for DRA to give advice or recommendations to our
members
: regarding the use of psychiatric medications or other forms of
: treatment.
:
: DRA respects and supports the right of each member to work with
the
: professionals of their choice to develop healthy recovery plans
that
: will best meet their personal recovery needs.
:
:
: Change and Recovery: Dual recovery may be seen as a program of
positive
: change. There is a saying in recovery: "If I want things to
change, I
: change". Dual recovery is a process. It begins when an individual
: becomes willing to accept that they are affected by two illnesses.
With
: the acceptance of both illnesses also comes a willingness to
accept the
: responsibility for personal recovery. That responsibility includes
: taking an active role in the process of recovery. Frequently,
people who
: move into successful dual recovery have gone beyond the point of
feeling
: that they have to do something to stop the problems, consequences,
: distressing symptoms, and emotional pain. They have moved to a
point
: where they have begun to develop "Believable Hope". They are
involved in
: their personal recovery to improve the quality of their lives."
:
: http://dualrecovery.org/dra_q_and_a.html
:

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:37:13 GMT, "rosie"
<sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:

>we have AA meetings in the milwaukee area that are DUAL DIAGNOSIS
>meetings.

If they're "dual diagnosis" meetings, how can they be AA meetings?

--
Blue Moon

there are many AA (approved) "specialty"
meetings..........................
IMPAIRED PROFESSIONALS
WOMEN
GAYS AND LESBIAN, ETC ETC ETC.

--
rosie

http://airamericaradio.com/www/pub/globalDefault.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4709863/






"Blue Moon" <mfoco@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:670a74566662909da7946a316aa11ce1@news.teranew s.com...
: On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:37:13 GMT, "rosie"
: <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:
:
: >we have AA meetings in the milwaukee area that are DUAL DIAGNOSIS
: >meetings.
:
: If they're "dual diagnosis" meetings, how can they be AA meetings?
:
: --
: Blue Moon

rosie" <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote in message
news:dYwec.65291$z%1.64806@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> we have AA meetings in the milwaukee area that are DUAL DIAGNOSIS
> meetings.
>
> rosie

Perhaps you are talking about meetings which are not Dual Recovery
Anonymous (DRA) meetings. I think this likely because it appears that
AA meetings are not the same as a DRA meetings. For example, there
are differences in their respective 12 Step Programmes and
Traditions::

AA 1st Step:

"We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had
become unmanagable

DRA 1st Step

"We admitted we were powerless over our dual illness of chemical
dependency and emotional or psychiatric illness - that our lives had
become unmanageable"

AA 3rd Tradition (short form)

" The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

DRA 2nd Tradition

" D.R.A. has two requirements for membership; a desire to stop using
alcohol and other intoxicating drugs, and a desire to manage our
emotional or psychiatric illness in a healthy and constructive way".

Maybe even the message which AAers are encouraged to carry to others
who suffer from alcoholism is different to that carried by DRAers.

FWIW, I know that a few people who attend the AA meetings I go to
either are or have been addicted to non-prescription drugs such as
coke and/or have or are being treated for psychiatric disorders. They
appear to be in AA for no other reasons than to hear (and take) what
it offers those seeking help to stay off booze.

JB

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 15:29:19 GMT, "rosie"
<sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:

>there are many AA (approved) "specialty"
>meetings..........................
>IMPAIRED PROFESSIONALS
>WOMEN
>GAYS AND LESBIAN, ETC ETC ETC.

Ah yes. SIGs... most of which seem to contradict AA's own Tradition
3... "...any 2 or 3 people gathered together for sobriety may call
themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no other
affiliation".

I spent some time hanging out at a men's group. I grew increasingly
uncomfortable with it, spent a little time wondering whether the
discomfort was "just me", and eventually left on the grounds that it
is, in reality, *not* an AA group. Just because some say it is
doesn't mean it actually is. I could say it's more akin to a men's NA
group, but that assessment would probably be doing NA a disservice.

I recently met another bloke I used to see there who apparently
reached the same conclusion, and is also no longer involved.
Ironically, we were both the only individuals there who would refer to
AA's recovery program.

--
Blue Moon

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:c5ecic$a3o$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> rosie" <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote in message
> news:dYwec.65291$z%1.64806@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> > we have AA meetings in the milwaukee area that are DUAL DIAGNOSIS
> > meetings.
> >
> > rosie
>
> Perhaps you are talking about meetings which are not Dual Recovery
> Anonymous (DRA) meetings. I think this likely because it appears
that
> AA meetings are not the same as a DRA meetings.

Having re-read these sentences, I've realised that I didn't say what I
meant to say :^) What was in my mind when I worte what I did was that
you and NE are talking about different things.

Blue Moon wrote:

> On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 15:29:19 GMT, "rosie"
> <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:
>
>
>>there are many AA (approved) "specialty"
>>meetings..........................
>>IMPAIRED PROFESSIONALS
>>WOMEN
>>GAYS AND LESBIAN, ETC ETC ETC.
>
>
> Ah yes. SIGs... most of which seem to contradict AA's own Tradition
> 3... "...any 2 or 3 people gathered together for sobriety may call
> themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no other
> affiliation".
>

There's a Women's group here and I think it has a negative impact on
the female newcomers in the town. Very few women attend AA meetings
here, except for the sheer purpose of checking the groups out for
newcomers to be recruited to the Women's group. Female newcomers often
find themselves the only woman in your "normal" AA meeting and I'm
certain it doesn't make it easier for them to commit to AA. When,
however, some of them do continue to attend, they're very quickly
recruited to the Women's group.

Kai

the issue of "specialty" groups has been addressed at the GSO level.
they provide literature on the subject also.

they are not my preference, but i do see that they are necessary for
some.


--
rosie

http://airamericaradio.com/www/pub/globalDefault.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4709863/






"Blue Moon" <mfoco@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:786a7ce2ea8c47bfc0a4e775d4ce0618@news.teranew s.com...
: On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 15:29:19 GMT, "rosie"
: <sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:
:
: >there are many AA (approved) "specialty"
: >meetings..........................
: >IMPAIRED PROFESSIONALS
: >WOMEN
: >GAYS AND LESBIAN, ETC ETC ETC.
:
: Ah yes. SIGs... most of which seem to contradict AA's own
Tradition
: 3... "...any 2 or 3 people gathered together for sobriety may call
: themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no
other
: affiliation".
:
: I spent some time hanging out at a men's group. I grew
increasingly
: uncomfortable with it, spent a little time wondering whether the
: discomfort was "just me", and eventually left on the grounds that
it
: is, in reality, *not* an AA group. Just because some say it is
: doesn't mean it actually is. I could say it's more akin to a
men's NA
: group, but that assessment would probably be doing NA a
disservice.
:
: I recently met another bloke I used to see there who apparently
: reached the same conclusion, and is also no longer involved.
: Ironically, we were both the only individuals there who would
refer to
: AA's recovery program.
:
: --
: Blue Moon

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:32:07 GMT, "rosie"
<sorry@toomanymalcontents.com> wrote:

>the issue of "specialty" groups has been addressed at the GSO level.
>they provide literature on the subject also.
>
>they are not my preference, but i do see that they are necessary for
>some.

Yes, I can understand how they can provide a purpose. I just wouldn't
suggest anyone use SIGs exclusively. For me, part of recovery was
(and is) about learning how to interact with others that are not
necessarily "like me"... my case is really not so different as I might
think.

--
Blue Moon