RECOVERY PATHWAYS
& OTHER RESOURCES
The addiction of a loved one or in your own life can feel overwhelming, but addiction can be treated. The road to long-term recovery can be rocky and difficult. Addicts may enter treatment many times for an addiction before staying clean for good, and this is nothing to be ashamed of. Relapse is often part of the recovery process and can be a lifelong struggle.
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Washtenaw County is home to many resources that can offer support to individuals at different stages of recovery and their families and friends:
Addiction Therapy
Most experts and treatment centers strongly recommend participation in some form of therapy. Therapy can take place in many settings. It can be individual, group or family therapy. Both medication-assisted treatment facilities and abstinence-based treatment facilities typically offer therapy. Therapy is appropriate for the person struggling with addiction as well as friends and family members.
Abstinence-Based Recovery Facilities
Abstinence-based recovery means going without any drug - including the medicines some programs use in medication assisted treatment. Some people believe that being completely abstinent from all substances is the only way to achieve recovery. Many abstinence-based programs have residential treatment centers where people can begin the process of recovery and detox in a supportive environment. These residental recovery centers also provide counseling or therapy for their residents.
12-Step Programs
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an international network of community-based meetings for those recovering from drug addiction. Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), NA is a 12-step program with a defined process for overcoming narcotic addiction.
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NA is an abstinence-based program. This means that the NA program is opposed to the use of medication-assisted treatment. However Methadone Anonymous is a 12-step program that supports the use of methadone or Suboxone in recovery from narcotic addiction.
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Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship with the
stated purpose of enabling members to stay sober and help other alcoholics
achieve sobriety.
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Meeting hotline: 734 483 5700
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Dual Diagnosis Alcoholics Anonymous. For anyone struggling with substance
use and mental health disorders.
Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm CMH Buildling, 2140 E. Ellsworth, Ann Arbor
Thursday 7:30pm Wash. Alano Club, 995 N. Maple, Ann Arbor (Room 2)
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Celebrate Recovery. 12 steps through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday 7pm (dinner at 6:30pm) Church of Nazarene, 2780 Packard, Ann Arbor
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Sober Atheists and Agnostics
Monday 7:30pm Washtenaw Community College Business Education Building
Room 160 *Room may change per semester*
Other Peer-Support Groups
Many people recovering from addiction find it very helpful to talk to people who are also recovering or in long-term recovery. In these peer-groups the person can find others with similar experiences and may feel more comfortable talking about their struggles. Talking with people who are further along in their recovery journey can also be a powerful motivator and source of hope. Most communities have a number of different groups. Some groups are for specific groups, like women or men, the LGBTQ community, veterans, etc.
Refuge Recovery is an independent, non-profit organization grounded in the belief that Buddhist principles and practices create a strong foundation for a path to freedom from addiction. Refuge Recovery follows an eightfold, abstinence-based path to recovery. There are several in-person meetings in the area, see the website for details.
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WRAP - Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project
WRAP is an advocacy committee that informs the community, region, and the world that people can and do recover from addiction.
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training)
SMART Recovery is a self-empowering addiction recovery support group which teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance. Participants can attend meetings online or in-person. There are a number of meetings in the area, see the website for details.
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The Ann Arbor Women's Group strengthens women's sobriety through fun and informative events, workshops and retreats. The Group helps women in recovery connect with other recovering women in Washtenaw County.
There are also peer-support groups for the friends and family members of those struggling with addiction, most notably NarAnon. The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. As a twelve step program, they offer help by sharing experiences, strength, and hope.
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The Families Against Narcotics (FAN) Chapter in Washtenaw County also provides friends and family members opportunities to meet, share stories and experiences, and advocate for change and stigma reduction.
Learn more about current meeting times and upcoming events at FAN Washtenaw County's Facebook page.
Social support group celebrating personal strengths and continued growth
Wednesday 12:00pm 3115 Professional Dr., Ann Arbor
Non 12 step, peer to peer based focusing group focusing on self-direction and personal empowerment
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13 Statement Program of positivity that encourages emotional and spiritual growth
Tuesday 5:30-7:00pm
Call 215 536 8026 for location and more information
Collegiate Support Resources
University of Michigan Collegiate Recovery Program
CRP provides holistic, tailored support to Michigan students who are in recovery from alcohol and other drug problems. CRP is not a clinical treatment program but a recovery support community for students in recovery. CRP aims to build connections among recovering students, share stories of recovery, provide accountability through case management, and connect students to sober events, service opportunities and resources for academic wellness.
Eastern Michigan University Students for Recovery
EMU's Students for Recovery is a student-run organization with a mission to promote the academic and social well-being of recovering students, faculty and staff. Learn more about their meetings and events at their Facebook page:
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Local Stories of Recovery & Support
The Unicorn Project is an initiative of Dawn Farm and shares the stories of individuals in our community who have been living and thriving successfully in recovery for 5+ years.
Recovery Is Good Business is a a collective of businesses in the Ann Arbor area who have made a commitment to hiring people in recovery. Visit their website to see participating local businesses and read about the benefits of hiring recovering persons.
Opportunities for Community Action
Naloxone Training
Naloxone (pronounced nal-ox-ohn) is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose. If given to someone overdosing on prescription opioids or heroin it can save their life. Anyone can be trained to administer Naloxone and obtain it from certain local agencies or pharmacies.
Medication Disposal
Medication diversion is when a prescription medication is given or sold to another person or stolen. Preventing diversion is one of the simplest ways to make an impact on the opioid epidemic. By disposing of your medications when you no longer need them, you can make a difference in the opioid epidemic.
Other Social Service Resources
Recovery & Transitional Housing
The following organizations and sites can connect you to transitional housing in our community:
Salvation Army of Washtenaw County provides emergency housing and transitional housing support services to individuals, families and veterans experiencing homelessness. Salvation Army also runs a food pantry multiple times per week.
Ozone House provides support service and youth suicide prevention services for homeless and at-risk youth.
UNIFIED is a multi-service center providing HIV/STI testing, Harm Reduction Services (overdose prevention and syringe exchange), a food pantry and housing assistance.
The Delonis Center (Shelter Association of Washtenaw County) offers a temporary warming shelter, residential and non-residental programs to address homelessness, a shelter health clinic run by Packard Health and a community kitchen serving lunch (12-1pm) and dinner (5:30-6:30pm) Monday through Friday to anyone in need.
Avalon Housing is a non-profit provider of supportive housing - a combination of affordable housing and support services that help those who have been chronically homeless and/or who have behavioral and physical health challenges achieve stability.
The HOPE Clinic runs free medical and dental clinics and offers a food pantry and weekend hot meals. Provides case management and peer support for persons with substance use disorders.
Safe House provides emergency shelter and response services, support groups, counseling services and legal advocacy for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children.