We accept letters to the editor. Letters to the editor are opinions of the authors of the letter, not Decaturish.com. Everyone has an equal opportunity to submit a letter to the editor. So if you read something here and don’t like it, don’t jump on our case. Write a letter of your own. All letters must be signed. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. To send your letter to the editor, email it to [email protected].

Editor’s note: While we normally do not allow letters to the editor to be anonymous, Decaturish is respecting this author’s wishes to remain anonymous due to avoid the social stigmas associated with addiction. We have verified the author’s identity.

Dear Decaturish,

In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, something amazing is happening that I think most people don’t realize. It’s historical but if you’re not a part of the 12-Step community you might not even know that it’s happening. For the first time in its entire history, an entire subsect of American culture is going digital. Millions of people, who suffer from alcoholism and addiction, are taking their meetings online. Over a dozen meetings in Decatur alone will now be streamed over the internet.

This is incredible but it’s also terrifying. Addicts and alcoholics rely on their 12-Step meetings to stay clean/sober. Shutting the doors on these meetings can mean the difference between life and death. This might seem melodramatic for some but it’s serious. Going online amidst the epidemic is the only way some people can survive and it’s not an easy choice. Many newcomers don’t have access to technology while others don’t know how to manage it to even get into the online meetings. 

If you are seeking recovery and can’t find a meeting open, know that the Decatur (and surrounding recovery community), is still alive and well. Many meetings will post a member at the door to direct you on how to get online and “find a meeting” while others will have signs posted. If you’re afraid to even try, here are some resources for you to reach out and find meetings online at almost any time day or night. 

Whatever you do, know this, the rooms may be dark but the promise is still freedom. You are not alone. We do recover.

Best,

Anonymous Addict

Narcotics Anonymous Resources:

https://virtual-na.org/

http://www.nabyphone.com/

https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/text-results.php?country=Web&state&city&zip&street&within=5&day=0&lang&orderby=distance

Atlanta Area Phone Line: 678-405-0825

Alcoholics Anonymous Resources:

http://aa-intergroup.org/

http://nabaclub.org/naba/quarantinedandsober/

Atlanta Area Phone Line: 404-525-3178

Heroin Anonymous Resources:

Online Speaker Tapes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T17vaYf-cJeQ121krfcfpEStJI6UC_n9?fbclid=IwAR2vsxpHC13nC_odYQuCFn3B2xE9ZudnHqdTs3DACsZuITJvc6UW3t6QXrk

Non defined 12-Step Resources:

https://www.intherooms.com/home/live-meetings/

https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php

[adsanity id=”59104″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”56211″ align=”alignright” /]

[adsanity id=”59106″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”59208″ align=”alignright” /]

Decaturish.com is working to keep your community informed about coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. All of our coverage on this topic can be found at Decaturishscrubs.com. If you appreciate our work on this story, please become a paying supporter. For as little as $3 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about what your community is doing to stop the spread of COVID-19. To become a supporter, click here.

Want Decaturish delivered to your inbox every morning? Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here. 

[adsanity id=”56022″ align=”aligncenter” /]

[adsanity id=”33719″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”52166″ align=”alignright” /]