Coming Out from the Closet of Anonymity: New Recovery Advocacy Movement

I have written before about many of my clients' disfavor towards AA/NA approach to recovery. Complaints range from discomfort about its "religious" or "spiritual" take, emphasis on handing your life to "higher power": the necessity of admitting of "powerlessness": the depressive atmosphere of the meetings "AA/NA meetings are for older addicts who've run out of options.

I have addressed some of these criticisms and offered alternative communities where people can come together to provide mutual support and commiserate about their personal daily struggles.

New Recovery Advocacy Movement is gaining momentum by challenging the anonymity of recovery and declaring that it contributes to stigmatization of addiction and recovery. I very much agree about the problem of stigmatization (societal/personal). If the addict is alone with it it only contributes to the cycle of shame, guilt and isolation.

People behind movement have produced a documentary "Anonymous People."

This is the trailer, to view the full documentary you need to purchase it on Vimeo on Demand.
And here is the link to the longer piece from the Fix.